UPDATE 18:35 (GMT-5): Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared Sunday, July 6, a Day of Prayer to honor and stand with the Texans impacted by the devastating floods sweeping the state.
UPDATE 18:26 (GMT-5): Death toll rises to 43 in Kerr County after severe flooding in Texas.
The fatalities include 28 adults and 15 children, Leitha said at a news conference Saturday. The sheriff added five children and 12 adults have yet to be identified.
Initial report:
By Saturday, volunteer rescuers were forced to begin the grim task of retrieving bodies—both children and adults—who were tragically swept away by a sudden flash flood in Central Texas. This human calamity struck after a ferocious storm unleashed devastating torrents that claimed dozens of lives.
At a tense afternoon briefing, officials confirmed at least 32 fatalities, including 14 children, with 27 people still missing. Nim Kidd, head of Texas Emergency Management, candidly admitted that chances of finding survivors were dwindling.
But Governor Greg Abbott, showing Texas grit and faith, insisted every missing person must be presumed alive until proven otherwise.
Particularly chilling: about two dozen young campers from Camp Mystic—a Christian summer retreat on the Guadalupe River—are missing.
Torrential rainfall caused the river to surge an astonishing 26 feet in under an hour before dawn Friday. As Sheriff Larry Leitha described, “catastrophic” rains wiped out riverside homes and vehicles, turning an Independence Day weekend into a scene of devastation for around 750 campers and their families.
So far, heroic responders have rescued roughly 850 people, and more than 1,700 volunteers are scouring the ruins. Yet even as they recover victims, officials say five adults and three children remain unidentified.
Among the confirmed dead is nine-year-old Renee Smajstrla—a joyful child whose uncle heartbreakingly shared, “while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly.”
Drone footage and helicopter surveillance have captured the full horror—scattered cars, submerged structures, and rescue crews battling raging waters. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick urged families to hold onto hope: “They could be in a tree, they could be out of communication.” But looming throughout the state is the ominous forecast: more heavy rain, more risk—too familiar, says the National Weather Service (NWS): “This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION… SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!”
Left-wing climate alarmists will pounce, citing “climate change” and global warming. But wait—wasn’t federal forecasting gutted under well-meaning but misguided cuts championed by this administration? Critics point to deep budget cuts at NWS, arguing they hampered forecasting and cost lives.
Predictably, they point their fingers at Trump. Yet CBS meteorologist Avery Tomasco defended the agency: “Flood watch for Kerr County more than 12 hours ahead… A flash flood warning was issued… They did their job and did it well.” So where did preparations fail? Oversight? Inadequate local warning systems? A faulty river gauge? Questions abound.
At a Saturday press conference, Republican leaders—from Governor Abbott to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—offered prayers and gratitude to Trump, even as they acknowledged that detailed updates only followed persistent questioning from reporters.
Records show the Guadalupe River climbed from zero to nearly 30 feet in just two hours before the gauge failed. Meteorologist Bob Fogarty summed it up chillingly: “The water’s moving so fast… you won’t recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you.”
Heartbreaking stories continue to emerge: In Ingram, a mother clung to her teen and dog amid rising floodwaters. In another home, a 94-year-old and her nine-year-old great-grandson huddled in an attic. Parents posted panic-filled pleas on social media. Tens of thousands were without power, and riverside businesses—century-old camps and vibrant tourism spots—have been shattered.
This disaster isn’t just another weather event. It lays bare the consequences of unaccountable weather cuts, overreliance on climate alarmism, and bureaucratic chaos. When seconds count—when water overruns homes and lives—only strong leadership, advanced resources, and immediate action save lives. Sadly, too many paid the price this holiday weekend.
