Catastrophic Texas Floods Leave 13 Dead, 20 Children Missing as Guadalupe River Rises Sharply

Central Texas suffered catastrophic flooding on July 4, resulting in at least 13 fatalities and leaving over 20 children missing. The Guadalupe River surged more than 20 feet in just 90 minutes, leading to urgent evacuations at Camp Mystic, a summer camp for girls in Hunt. Texas Game Wardens and other agencies are on-site to assist in locating the unaccounted campers, with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confirming that 23 remain missing but emphasizing that this does not mean they are lost.

The National Weather Service reported Kerr County received over 6. 5 inches of rain in a short period, leading to a flash flood emergency declaration. Local officials, including Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, acknowledged the rapid developments of the disaster despite prior flood warnings. The Texas National Guard, U. S.

Coast Guard, and FEMA are actively participating in rescue efforts as families await updates. President Trump has reassured Texas officials of federal aid, while Senators Cornyn and Cruz pledged to ensure local responders have necessary resources. As rainfall diminishes, light showers may complicate ongoing rescue operations in already flooded areas.