Texas Floods Leave 150 Missing Amid Ongoing Rescue Efforts

Rescue operations are ongoing in Texas following devastating floods that have left 150 people unaccounted for in Kerr County. As authorities confirm a rising death toll, questions arise over prior flood warnings and disaster preparedness.

At least 150 people are still unaccounted for in Kerr County, Texas, five days after fierce flash floods ravaged parts of the state, according to local officials. The hope of finding survivors dwindles as search efforts continue. Among the missing are five campers and their counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River. The floods have thus far claimed the lives of at least 119 individuals, with 95 deaths reported in the Kerrville vicinity.

The flooding disaster was not isolated to Texas alone, as neighboring New Mexico faced similar flash floods on Tuesday, claiming three lives as river waters inundated the village of Ruidoso. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has vowed that emergency teams will persist in their efforts until all those missing are accounted for. He cautioned that the number of missing individuals may rise in the upcoming days, urging residents to report anyone unaccounted for.

General Thomas Suelzer of the Texas National Guard reported that search operations are utilizing Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters equipped with rescue hoists, along with reaper drones. More than 250 responders from various agencies have been mobilized to assist in Kerrville's search and rescue initiatives. Describing the unprecedented destruction, volunteer rescuer Tim expressed shock over the devastation, while Justin noted the daunting challenge of the search, likening it to "finding a single hay in a haystack."

Concerns have emerged regarding the adequacy of flood warnings issued prior to the disaster, and whether timely evacuations were conducted. Experts highlight multiple factors, including extreme weather patterns and the location of holiday homes, contributing to the tragedy in Texas. Governor Abbott acknowledged that while storm warnings were issued, the magnitude of the crisis was unexpected, illustrating the unpredictability of natural disasters.

Most deaths occurred in Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River swelled significantly due to torrential rain early on Friday, coinciding with the July Fourth holiday. Camp Mystic had confirmed that at least 27 girls and staff members were victims of the flooding.

In the aftermath, those who survived are beginning to focus on rebuilding their lives. For local resident Justin Brown, the flood washed away his mobile home at the Blue Oak RV Park. He and his family narrowly escaped, and as they survey the site now filled with debris, they hold on to the hope of returning home.

On Friday, President Donald Trump plans to visit the affected areas alongside First Lady Melania Trump. Meanwhile, in New Mexico, officials issued flood warnings as the National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency, with residents of Ruidoso urged to remain vigilant. The flood wave of the Rio Ruidoso reached heights of 15 feet, destroying homes and leaving several residents missing as rescue efforts remain ongoing.