Texas Flood Disaster Deepens: 109 D**d, 161 Still Missing
The full scale of Texas’ catastrophic flash flooding continues to unfold in heartbreaking detail. On Tuesday, Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that the number of people reported missing in the disaster has surged to at least 161, a dramatic increase from earlier estimates. The official d**th toll has reached 109, surpassing the number of fatalities recorded during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
“We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for,” Abbott told reporters after surveying the destruction by helicopter. He emphasized that the list of missing includes individuals reported unaccounted for by family, friends, and neighbors — and warned that the figure could still rise.
Camp Mystic and Kerr County at the Epicenter
The worst devastation has occurred in Kerr County, where at least 87 of the 109 confirmed d**ths have been recorded. Among those lost are 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a well-known all-girls Christian summer camp located along the Guadalupe River near Hunt, Texas. The river rose more than 20 feet in less than two hours, catching many off guard in the early morning hours of July 5.
As of the latest reports, five girls and one counselor remain missing from the camp, which was struck by a sudden surge of water that swept away cabins while most of the camp slept. First responders described the scene as “unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” with entire communities left in ruins — homes flattened, trucks overturned, and debris scattered across the region.
Leadership and Emergency Response Under Scrutiny
Public criticism has intensified over the apparent lack of adequate warning systems. Many are questioning why the area — including a camp designated as a “safe zone” — had no flood alarms, sirens, or elevated evacuation protocols. State officials had approved the camp’s emergency plan just days before the flood, but survivors and parents have expressed deep concerns about how unprepared the facility was.
In his press conference, Governor Abbott defended the state’s ongoing efforts and said the focus remains on saving lives and locating the missing. He acknowledged the grief and frustration many are feeling but did not respond directly to questions of blame. A full investigation into emergency planning and response failures is expected to follow the rescue and recovery phase.