Devastating floods swept through central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, killing more than 100 people with dozens more missing as search efforts continue. Officials confirmed at least 104 deaths by Monday evening. The death toll could still rise.Among the victims were at least 28 children. Many were connected to Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls near the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. .Kerr County has the highest death toll, with 84 confirmed deaths. Other deaths occurred across Travis, Williamson, Burnet, Tom Green, and Kendall counties.Tragedy struck Camp Mystic particularly hard. Ten young campers and one counsellor remain among the missing. The camp's director Dick Eastland, 74, died in the rising waters trying to rescue girls at the camp."If he wasn’t going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for," wrote his grandson George Eastland online. “That’s the man my grandfather was. A husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to thousands of young women, he no longer walks this earth, but his impact will never leave the lives he touched.”.Eastland described his grandfather as a beloved mentor to thousands.Other camp victims included 18-year-old counsellor Chloe Childress. “Chloe Childress lived a beautiful life that saturated those around her with contagious joy, unending grace, and abiding faith,” said her family. “Returning as a counselor to the place she loved so dearly, Chloe was looking forward to dedicating her summer days to loving and mentoring young girls at Camp Mystic.”Childress had returned to the camp she loved to mentor younger girls. Eight-year-old twin sisters Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence also died. .Their grieving parents spoke of the immense joy the twins brought and their now "frozen" bond.“Hanna and Rebecca brought so much joy to us, to their big sister Harper, and to so many others,” said their parents. “We will find ways to keep that joy, and to continue to spread it for them. But we are devastated that the bond we shared with them, and that they shared with each other, is now frozen in time. Thank you for the love and support.”Victims also included people caught in vehicles or homes by the sudden flash floods. Despite the destruction, emergency responders rescued about 850 people. .US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskin alone saved 165 lives.Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott pledged ongoing dedication to the search. “We will remain 100% dedicated, searching for every single one of the children who were at Camp Mystic, as well as anybody else, and the entire riverbed to make sure that they’re going to be recovered,” said Abbott.Recovery teams continue searching the riverbed and affected areas.
