Texas Crippled by Unprecedented Rain: 24 Dead, Over 23 Girls Missing from Summer Camp

Texas Crippled by Unprecedented Rain: Months of rain fell in hours in Texas Hill Country, and at least 24 are dead and many more are unaccounted for Friday, including about 23 girls at a summer camp, as search teams do boat and helicopter rescues in fast-moving floodwaters.

Desperate pleas on social media as loved ones try to find people in the flood zone. At least 10 inches of rain fell overnight in central Kerr County, causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River.

"We have identified 24 fatalities," Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told a press conference after devastating floods swept through the region northwest of San Antonio, warning more casualties were likely.

Some of the dead are children, said Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.

"About 23" girls were unaccounted for from Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River, which rose 26 feet (eight meters) in 45 minutes overnight, Patrick added.

"That does not mean they've been lost, they could be in a tree, they could be out of communication," he said.

Also Read: ‘National Interest Over Deadline’: Piyush Goyal on Progress in India‑US Trade Deal

As reported, Judge Rob Kelly, Kerr County’s top elected official, confirmed fatalities. “Most of them, we don’t know who they are,” Kelly said at a news conference. “One of them was completely naked; he didn’t have any ID on him at all. We’re trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don’t have it yet.”

According to Erin Burgess, her home sits right across the river in the Bumble Bee Hills neighborhood west of Ingram. When she woke up to thunder at 3:30 a.m. Friday morning, “it was raining pretty heavily but no big deal,” she said. 20 minutes later, Burgess said water was coming in through the walls and rushing through the front and back doors. “My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said, getting emotional.

The death toll could rise as officials say the situation is still developing. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed 24 dead. Officials are still trying to identify the bodies.

Also Read: ‘Not Just Pakistan’: Army Says India Faced Three Adversaries in Operation Sindoor

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said at least 400 people are on the ground helping. 9 rescue teams, 14 helicopters, and 12 drones are being used in the search, and some people are being pulled from trees. This as the social media pleas of people trying to find their loved ones continue to pour in.

According to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, about 23 of the 750 girls at Camp Mystic, a summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, are missing. He said search crews have been sent to find the unaccounted for, including the missing girls. A gauge at Hunt measured a 22-foot rise (6.7 meters) in about 2 hours, according to Bob Fogarty, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. Hunt is where the Guadalupe River forks.

River tourism is a big part of the Hill Country economy. Well-known century-old summer camps bring kids from all over the country. Between Hunt and Ingram, there are many river homes and cabins for rent.

Flooding in Texas as severe weather moves through central New Jersey, where thunderstorms are blamed for at least 3 deaths.

Also Read: Pune Techie’s ‘Friend’ Accused of Rape: Victim Took Selfie and Sent Typed Threat, Say Police