Texas Flooding: 24 Confirmed Dead, Dozens Missing After Devastating Flash Flood

Devastating Flash Floods in Central Texas

• 💔 24 fatalities have been confirmed following catastrophic flash flooding in central Texas, with officials expecting the number to rise.
• 🌊 The Guadalupe River rose approximately 26 feet in about 2 hours, overwhelming communities and leading to an extraordinary catastrophe.
• 🗓️ The tragedy occurred during a holiday weekend, impacting campers and families celebrating the Fourth of July.

Massive Search and Rescue Operation

• 🆘 A large-scale, 24/7 search and rescue operation is underway, involving state and local agencies, including Texas Task Force One and Two, Texas National Guard, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
• 🚁 Resources deployed include helicopters with hoist capabilities, drones, high-water vehicles, boats, and divers.
• 🤝 Extraordinary collaboration between state and local officials is ensuring all concerns are addressed as quickly as possible.

Missing Persons and Campers

• 👧 Approximately two dozen young girls from a camp near Kerrville remain unaccounted for, with most children from the camp having been rescued.
• ❓ Authorities are working to account for all missing individuals, but an exact number is currently unknown due to the holiday weekend and the scale of the event.

State Disaster Declaration and Support

• 📜 Governor Greg Abbott has signed a disaster declaration for multiple counties, including Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Real, San Saba, and Tom Green.
• 💸 This declaration ensures affected counties have access to every tool, strategy, and personnel that the state of Texas can provide.
• 🙏 Officials are asking for prayers for the affected families and communities during this difficult time.

Official Response and Collaboration

• 🗣️ State officials, including Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and Mayor Joe Herring, emphasized the commitment to finding everyone and providing necessary support.
• 🌐 Federal agencies, including the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of the Interior, have offered assistance to accelerate recovery efforts.
• 🛠️ The focus remains on continuous search and rescue, providing information to families, and ensuring all individuals involved are fully accounted for.