At least 111 people have been killed and a further 173 are still missing after catastrophic flash flooding swept through Central Texas.
Officials fear that the death toll could soar as search and rescue efforts entered their sixth day Wednesday, as hundreds of local, state and federal emergency responders sifted through debris for survivors.
The brunt of the disaster remains centered in Kerr County, where at least 161 people remain missing. “There could be more added to that list,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said, with no rescues made in the region since Friday.
Among those killed were 27 young girls and staff members at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp situated on the bank of the Guadalupe River, which burst its banks and swelled over 20 feet in under 90 minutes on Friday. Five campers and one counselor are still missing.
The Texas Department of State Health Services had signed off on the youth camp's emergency disaster plans just two days before the disaster struck the camp, according to ABC News.
Key Points
- Death toll: At least 111 killed in Texas flash flooding
- With 173 still missing, hopes of finding survivors fade
- Camp Mystic's emergency plan was signed off two days before disaster
- Mapped: Where are the fatalities and missing?
- New Mexico: Father and two kids 'swept away' by Ruidoso flash floods
Girl, 8, faces growing up alone after entire family swept away by floods
11:24
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James Liddell
Eight-year-old Jenna Burgess was staying at a nearby camp when her family’s RV was swept away by raging Guadalupe River floodwaters.
Her father, Jack Burgess, 39, and mother, Julia Anderson Burgess, 38, were both killed Friday morning while staying at Blue Oak RV Park, just 13 miles away from Camp Mystic, near the bank of the river.
Her younger brothers Jack, 5, and James, 1, are still missing and presumed dead.
The young girl faces growing up alone after her entire immediate family was either confirmed or feared dead.
In pictures: Before and after flash floods slammed into Camp Mystic
11:00
,
James Liddell
Kristi Noem visited Camp Mystic. She left 'heartbroken'
10:36
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James Liddell
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared details Tuesday about her “heartbreaking” trip to Central Texas over the weekend.
“As soon as the flooding happened and I found out about it, I went there immediately,” Noem told Newsmax.
Noem said she visited Camp Mystic, the hub of devastation that saw at least 27 girls and staff members killed by surging waters of the Guadalupe River on Friday.
The DHS secretary said she met with victims’ parents inside the cabin, and saw stuffed animals lying in mud and children’s shoes strewn over the cabin.
“I guess that's what was so heartbreaking,” Noem said, “seeing that kind of grief on their face as they were trying to wrap their heads around it.”
Mapped: Storms and heavy rain expected in parts of eastern Hill Country
10:12
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James Liddell
Flood warning extended for counties near Guadalupe River
09:51
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James Liddell
Officials have warned of further flooding of the Guadalupe River, with a flood warning issued for Calhoun, Victoria and Bloomington counties.
The river’s waters were expected to rise almost five feet overnight, according to the National Weather Service. Motors driving near the riverbank are being urged to “turn around.”
The flood warnings, which were issued on Tuesday evening, is due to be in effect until Friday morning.
Mapped: Where are the fatalities and missing?
09:35
,
James Liddell
Trump and entire cabinet hold 'spontaneous' prayer for Texas flood victims
09:13
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James Liddell
President Trump and his cabinet began their meeting Tuesday with a “spontaneous and powerful” prayer for Texas after the state was ravaged by flash floods last week.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt captured the moment, which was led by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.
Before the press were brought into the room, @SecretaryTurner led the President, Vice President, and entire Cabinet in a spontaneous and powerful prayer for the people of Texas.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) July 8, 2025
This was a truly beautiful moment. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sArOqoeku3
New Mexico: Father and two kids 'swept away' by Ruidoso flash floods
08:51
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James Liddell
A father and his two children reportedly went missing after Texas’s neighbor, New Mexico, was hit by severe flash flooding triggered by monsoon rains.
They went missing from the mountain village of Ruidoso on Tuesday, where rapidly rising waters washed a house downstream.
The Rio Ruidoso’s water levels rose from less than three feet to a crest of 20.24 feet in under an hour as a result of the heavy downpour, according to the BBC.
At least 85 swift water rescues have been carried out so far in the vicinity, officials said.
With hundreds still missing, hopes of finding survivors fade
08:35
,
James Liddell
When officials revealed that at least 173 people were still missing following Friday’s flash flooding, Governor Greg Abbott issued an ominous update.
“There could be more to add to the list,” he told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
That morning, the official tally of the missing in Central Texas was at two dozen and the death toll stood at just over 100. But fears are mounting that those numbers could rise sharply.
“The primary job right now continues to be locating everybody who was affected by this flood,” Abbott said. “We will not stop until we identify, recover every single body.”
Death toll update: At least 111 dead and 173 missing
07:59
,
James Liddell
At least 111 people have been killed in the flash floods that swept through Central Texas last week.
Officials fear that the death toll could quickly soar, with at least 173 people missing – including 161 in Kerr County alone, where no one has been rescued since Friday.
Asked about the missing in Kerr County, Governor Greg Abbott said: “There could be more to add to the list.”
In pics: Water runs through the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area
07:39
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Texas inspected Camp Mystic on 2 July
07:17
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Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Texas authorities inspected Camp Mystic on 2 July, the same day the state Division of Emergency Management activated emergency response resources ahead of the anticipated flooding.
The inspection found no deficiencies or violations at the camp in a long list of health and safety criteria, according to the record. The camp had 557 campers and more than 100 staffers at the time between its Guadalupe and Cypress Lake locations.
The disaster plans are required to be posted in all camp buildings but aren't filed with the state, said Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services."We do not have them," Ms Anton said. "You'd have to get it from the camp."
Camps are responsible for developing their own emergency plan. Inspectors evaluate the plans to ensure they meet several state requirements, including procedures for evacuation.
"The inspector checked that they had plans posted for those elements in every building," Ms Anton said, "and that they had trained staff and volunteers on what to do."
Camp Mystic is licensed by the state and a member of the Camping Association for Mutual Progress, which says its goal is to "raise health and safety standards" for summer camps.
Ex-campgoer says she never received instructions on weather emergencies
07:02
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Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Charlotte Lauten, 19, spent nine summers at Camp Mystic, mostly recently in 2023. She said she didn't recall ever receiving instructions as a camper on what to do in the case of a weather emergency.
"I do know that the counselors go through orientation training for a week before camp starts," she told the Associated Press. "They do brief them on all those types of things.
"One thing that likely hindered the girls' ability to escape was how dark it would have been, Ms Lauten said. Campers don't have access to their phones while at camp, she said, adding they wouldn't have cell service anyway because of the remote location.
"This is the middle of nowhere and they didn't have power," she said.
"It would have been pitch black, like could not see 5 feet in front of you type of darkness. I've never seen stars like there because there's just no light."
Camp Mystic's emergency planning signed off two days before disaster
06:37
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Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Texas inspectors signed off on Camp Mystic's emergency planning just two days before catastrophic flooding killed 27 people at the all-girls Christian summer camp, most of them children.
The Department of State Health Services released records on Tuesday showing the camp complied with a host of state regulations regarding "procedures to be implemented in case of a disaster".
Among them: instructing campers what to do if they need to evacuate and assigning specific duties to each staff member and counselor.
The National Weather Service had issued a flood watch for the area 3 July 3 at 1.18pm local time.
That danger prompted at least one of the roughly 18 camps along the Guadalupe River to move dozens of campers to higher ground.
The uncertainty about what happened at Mystic comes as local officials have repeatedly dodged questions about who was monitoring the weather and what measures were taken ahead of the flooding.
ICYMI: Ted Cruz was overseas again when disaster hit Texas - but his team claims he ‘promptly’ booked a flight home this time
06:00
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Rachel Dobkin
Texas Senator Ted Cruz was overseas again when devastating floods struck his home state, but this time he promptly got on a flight home, his team claimed.
Cruz was in Greece visiting the Parthenon in the capital city of Athens this weekend as disaster hit in Texas, reminiscent of when he went to Cancun, Mexico, in 2021 during one of the worst winter storms in the state’s recent history.
At least 95 people, including children, have died after heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to swell in central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend.
In a statement, Cruz’s team confirmed the senator was in the middle of his family vacation and said he got back “as fast as humanly possible.”
Read more from Rhian Lubin:
What are Texas officials doing to help in the flooding aftermath?
05:40
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Rachel Dobkin
Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office said in a press release Monday more than 2,100 personnel have been deployed to help in the aftermath of the July 4 flash floods.
At least 109 people have died, and 161 are known to be missing after the floods hit Central Texas.
The state has also deployed more than 1,100 vehicles and equipment in its response.
“More than 20 state agencies are currently responding to flooding threats across the state,” the release read.
ICYMI: Trump says he will visit Texas with Melania on Friday
05:20
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Rachel Dobkin
President Donald Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday he and First Lady Melania Trump will visit Texas on Friday.
Trump’s visit will mark a week since flash floods along the Guadalupe River devastated Central Texas. At least 109 people have died, and 161 are known to be missing.
“We don't want to get in anyone's way,” the president said, calling it a “tragic situation.”
.@POTUS on the Texas flood: "I'll be going down on Friday with @FLOTUS... we don't want to get in anyone's way... What a tragic situation." pic.twitter.com/5T9ZCs9zOT
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 8, 2025
In pictures: Devastation left by Texas floods
05:00
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Rachel Dobkin
Flash flooding along the Guadalupe River on July 4 has devastated Central Texas.
At least 109 are dead, and 161 are known to be missing as Texans survey the damage left by the flooding.
Here are some photos of the aftermath:
ICYMI: Here are the areas affected by Texas floods
04:40
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Rachel Dobkin
State lawmaker's message to Texans in flooding aftermath
04:20
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Rachel Dobkin
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows said at a press conference Monday, “We stand willing and able to listen to the community and experts to do all that we can.”
“The Texas House will be organized. We will be ready. And we stand willing and able to listen to the community and experts to do all that we can.”
— Dustin Burrows (@Burrows4TX) July 9, 2025
That was my message today as I joined Governor @GregAbbott_TX and emergency response officials in Kerrville for a briefing and… pic.twitter.com/suJui9tVi1
Texas officials say they are 'working day and night' in flooding aftermath
04:00
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Rachel Dobkin
The Texas Division of Emergency Management said in an X post Monday night, “Texas responders continue working day and night supporting impacted communities.”
Today, @chiefkidd participated in an aerial survey of flood damage in the Texas Hill Country and provided an update on the state’s flood response with Gov. @GregAbbott_TX and other state officials.
— Texas Division of Emergency Management (@TDEM) July 9, 2025
Texas responders continue working day and night supporting impacted communities. https://t.co/bZJsWxMKBN pic.twitter.com/LAx9RCmLdv
Flood survivor recalls ‘terrifying’ moment water started rushing into her cabin
03:40
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Rachel Dobkin
Leigh-Anne Aiken was staying in a cabin along the Guadalupe River on July 4 when water started rushing in.
Aiken told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins she thought she was hearing “storm noises,” adding she has “profound hearing loss.”
She called her neighbor and he rescued her and her two dogs.
“By the time he got to me, it's maybe 200 yards, but by the time he got to me, the water was already to my knees,” Aiken recalled.
She said the water “ rose from our ankles to our waist in less than probably 15 minutes,” adding it was “really terrifying.”
Kerr County bridge reopened after flood disaster
03:20
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Rachel Dobkin
A bridge in the hard-hit Kerr County has reopened after flash flooding on July 4.
“The Lemos Bridge on FM 394 is now open to traffic,” the Texas Department of Transportation’s San Antonio District wrote on Facebook Monday night. “TxDOT crews have been working for the past few days to clear debris and make the bridge safe for drivers.”
Governor Abbott says 'our #1 job is to find every single missing person'
03:00
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Rachel Dobkin
Governor Greg Abbott shared photos from his day of surveying the flood damage and hosting a press conference in Central Texas.
“Right now, our #1 job is to find every single missing person. We will not leave until that job is done,” Abbott wrote on X.
Today, I returned to Kerr County to survey flood damage.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 9, 2025
Our hearts grieve for this community and surrounding areas.
Right now, our #1 job is to find every single missing person.
We will not leave until that job is done. pic.twitter.com/fmS45pJ08t
Flash flooding emergency in New Mexico triggers multiple rescues
02:40
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Rachel Dobkin
Several rescues took place following flash floods in New Mexico, as a man and two children were washed away on Tuesday.
“A DANGEROUS situation is unfolding in RUIDOSO! A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY remains in effect!” the NWS Albuquerque said at 5 p.m. E.T. on Tuesday. “Do NOT attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle!”
The flooding emergency in New Mexico comes as the death toll following flash floods in Texas has risen to more than 100 people. More than 160 people remain missing there.
In a local storm report at 5.50 p.m., the National Weather Service said multiple rescue missions had started at Gavilan Trailer Park in Ruidoso, and another person was trapped in high water.
Read more from Gustaf Kilander:
Family of flood survivors recall moment they we forced to climb to their roof for safety, compares destruction to ‘war zone’
02:21
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Rachel Dobkin
Spencer Offenbacker and Corey Jones live about 200 yards from the Guadalupe River, which was flooded on July 4.
“ By the time I realized what was going on, the water was already at our door,” Jones told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
The couple grabbed their two kids and headed for the roof where they stayed for about two hours.
Offenbacker, an Iraq combat veteran, said their home is “completely destroyed” and the flooding aftermath “looks like a war zone.”
A GoFundMe page dedicated to helping the family rebuild their lives reads: “They are thankful for their lives but grieving the loss their family and community is navigating.”
Timelapse shows deadly Texas floodwater rising in minutes
01:50
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Rachel Dobkin
