KERRVILLE, Texas — Torrential rains pounded the Hill Country region of Texas in just a few hours, causing devastating flooding that left at least 13 people dead and many more missing Friday, including about XNUMX girls enrolled in a summer camp. Rescue teams, aided by helicopters and boats, are working to retrieve victims from the treacherous floodwaters.
According to local authorities, up to 25 centimeters of rain fell overnight in Kerr County, causing the Guadalupe River to suddenly rise. A monitoring point in Hunt, where the river divides, recorded a rise of 6,7 meters in just two hours, before the equipment stopped working after reaching 9 meters.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said at a press conference that children were among the victims and those reported missing. In all, 23 of the approximately 750 girls enrolled at Camp Mystic were still missing as of Friday evening. "We are doing everything we can to locate everyone," he said, adding that the death toll could still increase.
On social media and the county sheriff's Facebook page, messages from relatives desperately seeking news of their loved ones multiplied. Approximately 400 rescuers were mobilized, assisted by 14 helicopters, 12 drones, and nine specialized water rescue teams.
Ingram resident Erin Burgess said she was caught in the flood waters at 3:30 a.m. She described a scene of terror: "My son and I drifted into a tree where we held on. My partner and our dog were swept away. We eventually found them." Her 19-year-old son, who is over 1,80 feet tall, is believed to have been responsible for their survival, she added emotionally.
Kerrville resident Matthew Stone criticized the lack of alerts on his cell phone. "We got nothing. No alerts. Just this kind of black wall of death," he said. He said he lent his paddleboat to police to rescue a neighbor when he heard screams in the water but couldn't make out anyone.
Local officials were questioned about their preparedness for such an event. Local judge Rob Kelly responded, "We don't have a warning system. No one knew this flood was going to be this severe." He noted that the Guadalupe River Valley is known as "the most dangerous in the United States" in the event of a flood.
The phenomenon is not new: the region is nicknamed "flash flood alley" because the thin layer of soil on the hills prevents rainwater from being absorbed. "The water doesn't seep in, it runs off," explained Austin Dickson, director of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which has launched a fundraising campaign for relief efforts.
The disaster comes as summer camps and river tourism are in full swing. Hundreds of second homes, cabins, and camps welcome visitors from across Texas and the country each year. "It's usually a peaceful, beautiful river," Dickson said, describing the shock of the sudden violence of the elements.
Meanwhile, violent thunderstorms also hit New Jersey, killing at least three people, including two men killed when a tree fell on their vehicle in Plainfield. Fourth of July festivities there have been canceled.
Rescue efforts continue in hopes of finding the missing, as Texas is already mourning one of the worst floods in its recent history.
