More than 160 people remain missing in Texas following devastating flash floods that have already claimed 109 lives. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the alarming toll on Tuesday, emphasizing the continued urgency of search efforts in the state’s hardest-hit areas.
What Areas Were Hit Hardest by the Texas Floods?
Kerr County, situated in Central Texas’s notorious “Flash Flood Alley,” bore the brunt of the disaster. At least 94 people have been confirmed dead there alone. Among the casualties were 27 girls and counselors from a youth summer camp on the Guadalupe River, where floodwaters swept through cabins as they slept during early Fourth of July celebrations.
“Just in the Kerr County area alone, there are 161 people who are known to be missing,” Abbott told reporters, adding that the number could still grow. As of Tuesday evening, five campers, one counselor, and another child unaffiliated with the camp were still missing.
Elsewhere across Texas, an additional 15 deaths have been confirmed.
How Are Rescue Teams Handling the Crisis?
Search operations have been intense and hazardous. Helicopters, drones, and trained dogs are being deployed, but rescuers face massive piles of debris and thick mud. Ben Baker from the Texas Game Wardens explained the challenges: “When we’re trying to make these recoveries, these large piles can be very obstructive, and to get in deep into these piles, it’s very hazardous. It’s extremely treacherous, time-consuming. It’s dirty work, the water is still there.”
In the town of Hunt, recovery teams continued combing through debris, with helicopters overhead. Among them was 24-year-old Javier Torres, who had already located the body of his grandfather and was searching for his missing grandmother. He also discovered the bodies of two children believed to have been swept away by the river.
What Role Did Weather and Infrastructure Play?
The U.S. National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for Ruidoso, New Mexico, where floodwaters rose over 20 feet and trapped several residents. According to Shel Winkley of Climate Central, extreme drought before the storm worsened the disaster: “This part of Texas, at least in the Kerr County flood specifically, was in an extreme to exceptional drought… We know that since May, temperatures have been above average.”
Tom Di Liberto, media director at Climate Central, pointed to staffing shortages at the National Weather Service as a factor. “You can’t necessarily replace that experience,” he said.
While President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Texas with First Lady Melania Trump on Friday, criticism has mounted over federal funding cuts and delays in emergency responses. During a tense press briefing, Baker deflected questions on response speed, stating, “Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home.”
Despite forecasts of more heavy rain, officials insist it “won’t deter” their mission to recover the missing.
By Risper Akinyi