Texas Floods: 109 Dead, Over 180 Still Missing
Texas Governor Greg Abbott shared new numbers after one of the worst floods in U.S. history. So far, 109 people have died, and more than 180 are still missing, four days after the floods began.
Worst Area Hit: Kerr County
Most of the deaths happened in Kerr County, especially in the town of Kerrville, where 25,000 people live. Heavy rain last Friday caused the Guadalupe River to overflow, turning the area into a disaster zone.
By Tuesday, 94 bodies had been found in Kerr County. About a third were children. One of the saddest parts was at Camp Mystic, a summer camp for girls near the town of Hunt. 27 campers and staff died, including the camp’s director.
Still missing were five girls and one counselor from the camp, and one more child not linked to the camp.
Many Still Missing
In total, 161 people are still missing in Kerr County. Some of them may just be out of contact or on vacation, but authorities are treating them as missing until they know more.
Across all flood-hit areas in Texas, 12 more people are also missing. Abbott said, “We need to find every single person. That’s our first job.”
Personal Losses
Country singer Pat Green said his brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces were among those swept away in Kerrville.
Search teams are working hard, even with bad weather. Help has come from federal teams, nearby states, and Mexico. But no one has been found alive since Friday.
A rescue worker found a wet photo album with pictures of toddlers and an older man. She said she hopes to return it to the family.
What Caused the Disaster?
Before dawn last Friday, more than 12 inches (30 cm) of rain fell in under an hour. This sudden rain caused a huge flood in the Guadalupe River, sweeping away cars, trees, and homes.
People are asking if the government warned the public soon enough. While weather services did issue a warning the day before, twice the expected rain fell and hit two rivers that joined into one, causing a powerful flood in Kerrville.
City officials said there wasn’t enough time to evacuate people safely.
Climate Change & Response
Scientists say that extreme floods like this are becoming more common due to climate change, which is making Texas wetter and warmer.
Some people are blaming emergency services for not acting faster. But the Kerr County Sheriff said they started getting 911 calls early Friday morning and are still reviewing what happened.
Governor Abbott said the Texas legislature will meet soon to investigate how the state responded and to provide money for flood recovery.
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