No Warning, No Escape: Camp Tragedy Haunts Flooded Texas

The death toll from devastating floods that swept through Texas has risen to 82, with dozens still missing as rescue efforts persist.

Officials face increasing scrutiny over a perceived failure to evacuate residents in the hardest-hit Kerr County, where much of the devastation occurred.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Sunday, July 6, 2025, that 41 people remain unaccounted for across the southern state, three days after the catastrophic flooding began.

He warned that the danger was not over, as more heavy rains were forecast through Tuesday, risking additional life-threatening floods.

Abbott vowed that search and rescue teams would continue working nonstop to locate those missing.

In Kerr County, the hardest hit area, Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed the grim discovery of 68 bodies, including 28 children.

Many of the victims were campers from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls that was overwhelmed by the rising waters.

Ten campers and one counselor remain missing, and Leitha pledged that search teams will continue their efforts until all are accounted for.

President Donald Trump extended his condolences to the families affected and indicated he may visit the region later in the week.

Speaking to reporters as he departed New Jersey, Trump described the tragedy as “absolutely horrible” and offered prayers for those impacted and the entire state of Texas.

His administration has been coordinating closely with Governor Abbott during the crisis.

The flooding occurred when the Guadalupe River, swollen by torrential rains on the US Independence Day holiday, burst its banks in central Texas.

According to Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the floods have claimed lives in several counties: three in Burnet, one in Tom Green, five in Travis, and one in Williamson.

With rain continuing to fall on already saturated ground, rescue teams have evacuated residents in additional communities along the river, fearing a “second wall” of floodwaters could hit soon.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was activated on Sunday to support local responders after Trump declared a major disaster in the state.

The Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and planes are assisting with search and rescue operations.

Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, cautioned that the death toll is expected to rise in the coming days as efforts to find missing persons continue.

Meanwhile, questions have been raised about whether the region was adequately warned and prepared for the floods.

Some communities along the Guadalupe River were evacuated following repeated alerts from the National Weather Service.

However, Kerr County residents reportedly did not receive similar evacuation notices.

Reporting from central Texas, Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi highlighted the mystery surrounding the lack of warnings in Kerr County, which has suffered the worst losses.

Rattansi noted that although FEMA assistance was mobilized, President Trump has previously expressed a desire to reduce such federal aid.

He even suggested that states requiring federal help might be “not up to the job.”

When pressed on this issue, Trump told reporters the matter could be “talked about later” but stressed that efforts were currently focused on the ongoing disaster response.

Rattansi also pointed out that the Trump administration is scaling back climate research and analysis, viewing it as politically divisive.

This comes despite climate scientists warning that warming temperatures lead to more intense storms, exactly the kind of extreme weather that has fueled the recent flooding.

Rick Spinrad, former director at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told Al Jazeera that cutting back on research will weaken the accuracy of weather predictions.

He warned that diminished forecasts for hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires would severely undermine public safety by reducing preparation time.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced cuts impacting hundreds of NOAA staff, including meteorologists at the National Weather Service.

In the wake of the disaster, Governor Abbott declared Sunday a day of prayer across Texas.

“I urge every Texan to join me in prayer—for the lives lost, those still missing, the recovery of our communities, and the safety of our front-line responders,” he said.

The tragedy also drew international sympathy.

Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims and families, especially mourning the young girls lost at the summer camp.

“We express our deepest condolences and pray for all affected by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas,” the Pope stated.

As rescue operations continue and communities mourn, Texas faces a long road to recovery.

The floods have exposed vulnerabilities in preparedness and raised urgent questions about the impact of climate change on extreme weather events in the future.

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