On July 4th, local time, officials in Texas, USA, reported that the severe flood disaster triggered by heavy rains in the central region of the state has resulted in at least 25 deaths, including children.
President Donald Trump expressed shock over the flood disaster on the same day and promised federal assistance for post-disaster relief.
△ On the evening of July 4th, Trump spoke from “Air Force One”.
Trump said on the evening of the 4th that the flood disaster was “terrible” and “shocking”. When asked if there would be federal government assistance, Trump replied: “Yes, we are working with the governor.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott described it as a “catastrophic disaster”, stating that search and rescue operations will continue overnight. Additionally, Abbott declared a disaster status for 14 counties in the central part of the state.
Larry Lesa, the police chief of Kilgore County in Central Texas, reported on the evening of July 4th that the number of deaths caused by the flood disaster in his county had risen to 24. Besides Kilgore County, Kenedy County also reported one death, but it remains uncertain whether it is related to the flooding.
Kilgore County was the main area affected by this flood disaster. The police stated that there was a summer camp specifically for girls, which was hit by the floods, and around 750 children were present when the disaster struck.