Asger Risom
At least 67 people, including 21 children, have died in devastating Texas floods, as rescue crews race against time to find those still missing.
Catastrophic flooding in central Texas has claimed dozens of lives, disrupted entire communities, and raised urgent questions about disaster preparedness under current federal policies.
Children Among the Dead as Search Enters Third Day
At least 67 people are confirmed dead following Friday’s flash floods, which struck during the U.S. Independence Day holiday.
Among the victims are 21 children, most of them from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Kerr County.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported that 11 girls and one counselor from the camp are still missing as of Sunday.
The region, centered around the Guadalupe River, saw up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rainfall, forcing river levels as high as 29 feet.
Authorities say more than 850 people have been rescued, some found clinging to trees.
Across several counties, fatalities were also confirmed in Travis, Kendall, Burnet, and Tom Green. In Kerr County alone, 59 deaths were reported, with 22 individuals still awaiting identification.
FEMA Deployed Amid Criticism of Federal Cuts
President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, triggering the deployment of FEMA and U.S. Coast Guard units to support search and rescue.
However, critics are pointing to staffing cuts at the National Weather Service’s parent agency, NOAA, under Trump’s administration.
Former NOAA Director Rick Spinrad told Reuters that reduced personnel likely impaired the agency’s ability to forecast the storm’s intensity.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged the NWS issued only a “moderate” flood watch before the disaster, and pledged upgrades.
Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro warned that fewer forecasters could lead to more preventable tragedies.
Trump has previously expressed intentions to devolve disaster response responsibilities to state governments.
As Texas braces for more rain, the scale of devastation at Camp Mystic—mud-filled cabins, broken walls, and scattered belongings—underscores the toll of nature’s fury and human oversight.
