Catastrophic flash floods went through Texas Hill Country over the July Fourth long weekend, killing at least 82 people and leaving dozens missing. The flash flood came from a storm that dropped roughly 30 centimetres of rain that sent the Guadalupe River surging 26 feet in about 45 minutes.Kerr County absorbed the worst blow, accounting for 68 deaths, 28 of them children. Many were campers at Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer retreat near Hunt, where 10 campers and a counsellor remain missing. .More than 400 first responders from over 20 agencies, backed by Texas National Guard helicopters, boats, drones, and K-9 teams, are combing riverbanks, toppled cabins, and bridges. .Hundreds have been rescued, yet officials warn the death toll will climb. Texas Governor Greg Abbott expanded his disaster declaration on Sunday and asked the federal government for aid as forecasters predicted more heavy rain that could trigger new flash floods. The disaster has revived questions about preparedness in “Flash-Flood Alley.” The National Weather Service did issue flash flood emergencies, but parts of Kerr County lack sirens and river gauges after grant requests were rejected. Families now sifting through muddy possessions are asking why warnings failed to reach people sleeping beside the river. With victims still being identified, this is Texas’ deadliest flooding in decades.
