Xinhua News Agency, Houston, July 7th – According to a statement released by the local government of Texas on July 7th, the flood disaster triggered by heavy rains in Texas has resulted in at least 104 deaths; there are still 24 missing persons, including 10 girls from a summer camp called “Mystery Camp” and one camp counselor.
On July 4th, in Inglewood, Texas, USA, people were inspecting along the Guadalupe River.
On July 6th, in Hunt, Texas, USA, a car submerged in the Guadalupe River.
On July 6th, in Hunt, Texas, USA, a man was searching for survivors in an area affected by the flood.
Ten Summer Camp Children Missing in the Hard-hit Area
The flood disaster has affected 20 counties, with the death toll in Ker County, where the worst damage occurred, rising to 68. A riverside summer camp was destroyed during the floods, and after days of search and rescue efforts, 10 girls and one camp counselor remain unaccounted for.
According to American media reports, the involved summer camp was named “Mystery Camp,” targeting girls aged 8 to 17. About 750 girls attended activities at the camp in Ker County’s Hunt town during the floods. Following the disaster, Texas emergency response teams contacted nearly 20 camps along the Guadalupe River, except for “Mystery Camp,” none of which reported any missing persons.
On July 5th, near the entrance of the “Mystery Camp” camp in Ker County’s Hunt town, USA, a sign fell to the ground.
On July 5th, in Ker County’s Hunt town, USA, law enforcement officers and volunteers continued their search for missing individuals near the “Mystery Camp” camp, with onlookers watching.
The “Mystery Camp” is located along the Guadalupe River near Hunt town in Ker County, USA. The water level rose about 6.7 meters during this rainfall event, reaching its second highest point in history.
Eleanor Lester, a rescued camper, said that at 1:30 AM on July 5th, she and her companions were awakened by the storm. Search and rescue personnel arrived shortly after, using ropes to pull them onto a helicopter, which was already submerged in floodwaters up to their calves. “The camp was completely destroyed,” Lester stated, “A helicopter arrived and began to move the campers. It was truly terrifying.”
On July 5th, in Kerville, Texas, an American girl from Huntsman’s Camp was crying outside the resettlement center.
By the 5th, the river had begun to recede, leaving the camp in disarray. Some cabin windows were broken, and luggage soaked in floodwaters could be seen on the ground. Vehicles and exterior walls of buildings were also swept away by the floodwaters.
On July 6th, inside the damaged cabins of the “Mystery Camp” in Huntsman, Texas, where the floodwaters had washed away everything.
On July 6th, in Huntsman, Texas, children’s clothes hung on fallen trees.
The death toll is expected to rise as the government initiates emergency response.
Governor Abbott mentioned during a meeting on the afternoon of July 6th that there are still at least 41 missing persons in areas affected by the floods in Texas. He predicted that there would be “more heavy rainfall” in the coming days, with some parts of Texas still facing the risk of flooding. Deputy Governor Dan Patrick, in an interview with NBC News on the 6th, stated that the death toll from the flood disaster might increase. He mentioned that many tourists were vacationing along the riverfront in central Texas during the long weekend holiday of Independence Day, making it uncertain about the number of missing persons.
On July 5th, the Guadalupe River in Kerville, Texas, was surrounded by floodwaters.
On July 6th, in Huntsman, Texas, a volunteer was searching for missing individuals.
President Trump signed a “major disaster declaration” for Texas on the 6th, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has initiated an emergency state of readiness in Texas and provided federal assistance. The Coast Guard deployed helicopters to join the search efforts.
The Texas National Guard stated that military drones are being used to assist in the search and rescue efforts, with the Federal Aviation Administration establishing a dedicated airspace route for these drones through Texas.
On July 6th, law enforcement officers in Hunt, Texas, were searching near a river where a mysterious camp was located.
On the same day, volunteers in Hunt, Texas, found a dead cow hanging from a tree while searching for missing persons.
Who is responsible for the disaster due to a lack of warning system?
During this flood disaster, the National Weather Service has been questioned about its inadequate and late warnings. According to the Associated Press, the National Weather Service issued flood warnings on July 3rd and even issued flash flood alerts early in the morning of July 4th. However, the actual rainfall far exceeded the forecasted amounts. The rainfall at the location of the “Mysterious Camp” summer camp had never been included in any forecasts. Local residents and camp staff reported not receiving any warning notices.
On July 6th, a volunteer paused briefly while searching for survivors along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas.
On July 4th, emergency personnel moved people affected by the flood in Inglewood, Texas.
On the same day, people affected by the flood gathered at a gathering point to embrace each other in Inglewood, Texas.
Local media also reported that heavy rainfall in the disaster area typically lasts for about 30 minutes. The National Weather Service did not predict a tropical storm would “stop” in central Texas and lead to catastrophic flooding. Rob Kelley, a judge in Ker County, directly stated, “We don’t have a warning system,” adding, “No one knew such a flood would happen.”
Several media outlets linked this flood disaster to the massive layoffs undertaken by the Trump administration. Reports indicated that the Trump administration cut hundreds of employees from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its subsidiary, the National Weather Service.
Since April this year, there have been several vacancies at the National Weather Service’s Central Texas Branch in the United States, including for weather warning coordinators.