The White House says at least 90 people are dead — including over two dozen children — after devastating flash floods ravaged Central Texas over the weekend.
"Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem traveled to Texas over the weekend, and the entire Trump administration is working hand in glove with state and local officials to provide every assistance available," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday. "The situation on the ground remains dangerous and there could be additional public safety threats with potential incoming heavy rain. So we encourage everyone in the area to remain vigilant, listen to all warnings, and respond accordingly."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott reported that over 40 people are still unaccounted for after heavy rains caused the Guadalupe River in Kerr County near San Antonio to rise more than 25 feet within an hour. Among the missing are 10 girls and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp.
"Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River," a statement on the camp's website reads. "Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly."
Local officials are referring to this disaster as a "100-year flood." Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha stated that the search will continue until "everybody is found."
WATCH | River flood timelapse
Volunteers from out of state have arrived to assist, comparing the destruction to the damages from Hurricane Helene that impacted North Carolina last year — causing nearly $60 billion in damages
"You're gonna hear about this for a while," one volunteer remarked. "You're not, this isn't gonna be over. Unfortunately, the body counts, the things that you hear about, they're only going to grow. I mean, it's only gonna get worse."
IN RELATED NEWS | 'It's shocking': Trump pledges federal support after deadly Texas flooding
President Donald Trump has already signed a disaster declaration to release emergency funds for Texas. However, when asked over the weekend if recent federal budget cuts influenced the government's response to this disaster, Trump pushed back, insisting, "This was a thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it."
The devastating floods in central Texas have left families and communities in urgent need of support. Scripps News and the Scripps Howard Fund are partnering to provide critical relief to those impacted. Every dollar donated here will go directly to helping victims recover.
This campaign is a Scripps News initiative in collaboration with the Scripps Howard Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to this campaign are tax deductible.
