Death toll from Texas Floods rises to 67 including 21 Children

The death toll from devastating floods in Texas has risen to at least 67, with 21 children among the victims, as rescue teams continue searching for those still missing. The catastrophe struck central Texas after torrential rains on Friday caused rivers to overflow, submerging communities and summer camps. Kerr County, at the heart of the disaster in Texas Hill Country, has recorded 59 deaths so far. According to Sheriff Larry Leitha, this figure includes the 21 children. He added that 18 adults and four children still await identification.  Eleven girls and a counselor remain missing from Camp Mystic, a historic Christian girls camp along the Guadalupe River, which burst its banks during the storms. The camp had around 700 girls on-site when the floods hit. A counselor described how cabins at the highest points of the camp were inundated, forcing terrified campers to be evacuated on military trucks. Floodwaters also claimed lives in neighboring counties. Travis County reported four deaths and 13 missing, while Kendall County recorded one fatality, and Burnet County reported two more. In San Angelo, a woman was found dead in her submerged car. Officials said over 850 people have been rescued so far, including some who clung to trees to escape the rising waters. With more rain expected and a flood watch still in effect for Kerr County, authorities warn that the death toll could rise further. US President Donald Trump has issued a major disaster declaration, prompting the deployment of Federal Emergency Management Agency teams and Coast Guard helicopters to assist local responders. However, the floods have also sparked criticism of deep staffing cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Trump administration, which some say may have undermined the capacity to issue timely and precise weather warnings. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged that the initial forecast had only called for a moderate flood watch, missing the scale of the eventual deluge that pushed river levels to 29 feet. Meanwhile, local leaders and experts warn that under-resourced weather offices could leave communities more vulnerable in future emergencies. Scenes at Camp Mystic reveal the disasters brutality. Mud lines reach six feet up cabin walls, while bed frames, mattresses, and personal belongings lie wrecked and caked in dirt. The camps longtime director, Richard Dick Eastland, died while reportedly trying to save campers. Everyone in the community is hurting, Sheriff Leitha said, as search teams continue to comb through debris and swollen waterways, hoping to locate the missing. The post Death toll from Texas Floods rises to 67 including 21 Children appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.