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Texas flooding live updates: At least 95 killed, including 27 girls and counselors from Camp Mystic

Nearly 5 million people were under a flash flood watch warning on Monday.

Updated
A crew of firefighters from Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, gather for a briefing as they aid in search and rescue efforts near the Guadalupe River in Texas on Monday
A crew of firefighters from Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, gather for a briefing as they aid in search and rescue efforts near the Guadalupe River in Texas on Monday. (Eli Hartman/AP)

At least 104 people have died and dozens of others are missing in Texas after flash flooding ravaged the state over the Fourth of July weekend.

Across the state, rescuers continue their efforts to search for the dozens still missing, including 10 campers and one counselor at an all-girls camp located along the Guadalupe River, near San Antonio, which rose more than 20 feet in less than two hours. Camp Mystic confirmed that 27 campers and counselors died during the weekend floods.

Parts of central Texas are bracing for another day of localized flash flooding threats caused by slow-moving thunderstorms in the flood-ravaged area, according to weather officials. The storms could produce another 2 to 4 inches of rain, with an isolated total of up to 10 inches, according to the National Weather Service's Austin-San Antonio office. Nearly 5 million people, including those in the disaster areas, are under a flood watch that has been extended until 7 p.m. local time.

Live coverage has now ended.

Live coverage is over37 updates
    • Kaitlin Reilly
      Kaitlin Reilly

      More than 100 reported dead

      The number of lives lost in the Texas flooding reportedly climbed to 104 as of Monday evening. The majority of the deaths occurred in Kerr County, where officials reported at least 84 dead, including 28 children, the New York Times reported. Other counties that saw fatalities include Travis, Williamson, Burnet, Tom Green and Kendall, according to ABC News.

      Kerr County officials reported that they have not yet identified the bodies of 22 adults and 10 children.

    • Kaitlin Reilly
      Kaitlin Reilly

      6 unidentified bodies remain in Kendall County

      According to the New York Times, Brady Constantine, the emergency management coordinator for Kendall County, Texas, stated during a brief press conference that six bodies have been found in the area, but none have yet been identified. Officials are unaware of anyone missing from the county.

    • Kaitlin Reilly
      Kaitlin Reilly

      Houston Astros pledge $1 million to relief efforts

      In a statement, Houston Astros owner Jim Crane and his wife, Whitney Crane, promised that the Astros organization will donate $1 million toward relief efforts.

      “It’s important to the entire Astros organization, to send immediate support to our fellow Texans throughout the Hill Country during this devastating time,” Crane said, according to the MLB. “There is a lot still unknown as recovery efforts are ongoing, but the Astros are committed to supporting Central Texas communities in the long term through the coming days, months and years to help rebuild and heal.”

      In addition, the Astros Foundation will launch a fan-based initiative to "provide resources to ensure our Central Texas neighbors have the sustained support they need to rebuild and recover," the MLB website stated.

    • Kaitlin Reilly
      Kaitlin Reilly

      Climate change and development may impact future flash floods in Texas area

      AccuWeather reported that the zone in which these deadly floods occurred is called "Flash Flood Alley" and is one of the most dangerous places in the U.S. for this type of activity. Development and climate change may further increase the frequency and severity of floods in the region, experts say, due to more impermeable surfaces and bigger storms.

      Pete Rose, a meteorologist with the Lower Colorado River Authority, told AccuWeather, "You have a lot of your hills and valleys that go along with that type of topography, and these hills don't contain a lot of soil; they have very thin soil. So when rain does hit them, not much of it gets absorbed."

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    • Kaitlin Reilly
      Kaitlin Reilly

      Death toll rises to 95

      The death toll has risen to 95, according to Tthe New York Times. This includes 27 from Camp Mystic, where 10 girls and a counselor remain missing.

      "Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly," the camp said in a statement, per CBS News. "We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level."

    • Kaitlin Reilly
      Kaitlin Reilly

      Man awaits news of 5 family members still lost in flood

      Xavier Ramirez, 23, is awaiting word of the whereabouts of five missing family members who were swept into the floodwaters, per NBC News: his aunt, Tasha Ramos; his cousin Kendall Ramos; his stepfather, Cody Crossland; his mother, Michelle Crossland; and his uncle Joel Ramos.

      The family was camping when the floodwaters rose. Ramirez's cousin Devyn Smith was rescued and is now recovering at Peterson Regional Medical Center.

      "I'm the only boy, so I'm trying to hold it together for the rest of the family," Ramirez said.

    • Kaitlin Reilly
      Kaitlin Reilly

      Bodies of 2 sisters who died in flash flood found holding hands

      Sisters Brooke and Blair Harber, ages 11 and 13, died in the Texas flash floods and were found 15 miles from where they were staying, their hands still locked together, their family said, according to People.

      Brooke and Blair Harber pose for the camera with four others.
      Sisters Brooke and Blair Harber, center. (GoFundMe)

      They had been visiting their grandparents along the Guadalupe River when the floodwaters overwhelmed the area on July 4. The girls were students at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas and were described by officials at the school as having "deep faith."

      The girls’ grandparents remain missing. Jennifer Harber, their aunt, told KHOU: “Please help us find my parents so we can have closure and bring them home," she said.

    • Kaitlin Reilly
      Kaitlin Reilly

      Camp acted quickly to save lives — despite no warnings from authorities

      During the heavy rain that preceded the flash flood, officials at Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly, a central Texas summer camp, acted quickly and saved lives — despite no official warnings from local authorities. Aroldo Barrera, the facilities manager at the camp, saw the rising waters and notified camp leaders to help move the more than 70 campers and staff to higher ground, according to Politico.

      “They knew that those parents would wake up and just see all this media footage of kids lost, or the river,” Lisa Winters, communications director for Mo-Ranch, told the Associated Press. “They’re like, ‘tell your parents you’re OK.’ … We made sure every single guest, every single kid, was accounted for.”

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    • Kaitlin Reilly
      Kaitlin Reilly

      Young woman dies in flash flood after sending final text: 'We're being washed away'

      Joyce Catherine Badon, a 21-year-old college student, was found dead after being swept away by floodwaters, according to Agence France-Presse. She was staying at a house along the banks of a river with friends on July 4 when the waters rushed into the residence, eventually causing it to collapse. Her final message to her family was "we’re being washed away" before her phone went silent.

      Rescue efforts continue for her three missing friends.

      Joyce Catherine Badon, a 21-year-old college student
      Joyce Catherine Badon, a 21-year-old college student, was found dead after being swept away by floodwaters. (Kellye Badon/Facebook)
    • Kaitlin Reilly
      Kaitlin Reilly

      States send aid to support Texas flood victims and help with search efforts

      Rescue teams across different states, as well as Mexico, are heading to Texas to assist.

    • Dylan Stableford
      Dylan Stableford

      Death toll rises to 94

      The death toll has risen to at least 94 in the Texas floods, multiple news organizations are reporting.

      The vast majority of deaths were in Kerr County, where at least 75 people, including 28 children, were killed.

      According to CNN, the latest fatalities were reported by officials in Kendall County, where there were at least six deaths as of Sunday night, increasing the overall toll. ABC News reported the same figure.

    • Dylan Stableford
      Dylan Stableford

      8-year-old twins and a 27-year-old father among Texas flooding victims

      We are beginning to learn about the lives of the more than 90 victims of the Texas floods. Here is what we know about just some of them.

      Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence

      Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence
      Courtesy of the Lawrence Family

      The 8-year-old twin sisters from Dallas died at Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 people were killed. According to ABC News, their 14-year-old sister, Harper, survived the flooding.

      "It has been an unimaginable time for all of us," David Lawrence Jr., their grandfather, said, per ABC. "Hanna and Rebecca gave their parents John and Lacy and sister Harper, and all in our family, so much joy. They and that joy can never be forgotten."

      Julian Ryan

      Julian Ryan
      Connie Salas/Facebook

      Julian Ryan's sister, Connie Salas, said the 27-year-old died while trying to help his family escape their trailer home in Ingram, Texas.

      According to Salas, he and his fiancée awoke to fast-rising water inside their trailer home. The couple got their young children to safety, but Ryan became stuck inside when the bedroom door did not open.

      He then tried to break a window and suffered a severe cut to his arm, Salas said. He lost consciousness before help arrived. Salas said Ryan's last words to his fiancée were: "I love you. I'm so sorry."

      "He didn't die in vain," Salas told ABC News. "He died a hero."

      Read more from ABC News: From campers to parents, what we know about the lives lost

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    • Kate Murphy
      Kate Murphy

      Texas first responders 'working tirelessly' in areas impacted by flooding, governor says

      Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's press office said Monday that first responders in the state are "working tirelessly in communities impacted" by the July 4 flooding and that search and rescue and recovery efforts remain ongoing.

      Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said Monday that as of Saturday, 850 people who were uninjured and eight others with injuries have been rescued overall. Officials have conducted more than 160 air rescues.

      Meanwhile, volunteer firefighters from Acuña, Mexico, are also helping their neighbors across the border in Texas with rescue and recovery efforts.

    • Kate Murphy
      Kate Murphy

      How you can help the victims of the Texas flash floods and avoid scams

      In the wake of the catastrophic Texas flash floods, people who are looking to help the victims should be on the lookout for scammers posing as legitimate charity organizations.

      Here's what to watch out for:

      • Don't click on pop-up messages that appear online through text messages from unknown sources

      • Be suspicious of any phone calls or emails demanding immediate action

      • Legitimate organizations, including government agencies, won't ask for money over the phone or online

      • Don't provide financial or personal information over the phone or online

      How you can help:

      • The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country works with nonprofits across a dozen counties in central Texas. The organization established a relief fund that will "support nonprofit organizations, first responder agencies and local governments actively involved in response, relief and recovery efforts," Consumer Affairs reported.

      • GoFundMe set up this page that lists verified fundraisers for those affected by the flooding.

      Read more from the Argus Leader: Here's how you can help victims of the flash flooding in Texas and avoid getting scammed

    • Kate Murphy
      Kate Murphy

      A timeline of how fast flood waters devastated parts of Texas

      An aerial view, of the sun setting over the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on Sunday. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
      An aerial view, of the sun setting over the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on Sunday. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

      More than a month's worth of heavy rain fell in some parts of Texas on July 4, resulting in deadly flash flooding. Here's a brief timeline of what led up to the disaster as it unfolded:

      Thursday, July 3

      • Morning: Parts of south central Texas, including Kerr County and surrounding areas, are upgraded to a level 2 of 4 for excessive risk of rainfall by the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center.

      • Afternoon: A flood watch is issued by the Austin/San Antonio NWS office and mentions local heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding with isolated amounts of 5 to 7 inches.

      • Evening: The south central Texas region is highlighted as an area of increasing concern for slow-moving thunderstorms moving over the same area. The Weather Prediction Center said potential rainfall rates could exceed 3 inches per hour into the evening and beyond.

      Friday, July 4

      • Early morning hours: A flash flood warning is issued for Bandera and Kerr counties, along with a "considerable" alert tag. According to the NWS, this tag means high-damage threats, which will automatically trigger a Wireless Emergency Alert on enabled mobile devices. Flash flood warnings are upgraded to a flash flood emergency for south central Kerry County.

      • 4:35 a.m. local time: Local officials, including the Kerr County Sheriff's Office, start reporting flash flooding at low water crossings.

      Read a more detailed timeline of the flooding from ABC News: Texas flooding timeline: How rapidly rising waters killed dozens

    • Dylan Stableford
      Dylan Stableford

      White House: 'The National Weather Service did its job'

      White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing on Monday. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
      White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing on Monday. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

      During her press conference, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the Trump administration amid questions over whether staffing cuts to the National Weather Service played a role in the tragedy.

      "Unfortunately, in the wake of this once-in-a-generation natural disaster, we have seen many falsehoods pushed by Democrats such as Sen. Chuck Schumer and some members of the media. Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie," she said.

      Earlier Monday, Schumer sent a letter urging the Commerce Department's inspector general to “open an investigation into the scope, breadth, and ramifications of whether staffing shortages at key local National Weather Service stations contributed to the catastrophic loss of life and property during the deadly flooding.”

      "The National Weather Service did its job," Leavitt said. "Despite unprecedented rainfall, the National Weather Service executed timely and precise forecasts and warnings."

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    • Dylan Stableford
      Dylan Stableford

      91 dead in Texas floods, White House says

      At the top of a daily briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said 91 people have been confirmed dead in the Texas floods, relaying a figure provided by the Department of Homeland Security.

      Leavitt said that President Trump will travel to the flood-ravaged state sometime later this week.

      “President Trump loves you. We are praying for you, and he will be traveling to see you later this week,” she said.

    • Kate Murphy
      Kate Murphy

      Texas man who lost family in 2015 floods is paying it forward in aftermath of July 4 disaster

      Jonathan McComb (KIII 3 News/Youtube)
      Jonathan McComb (KIII 3 News/Youtube)

      Jonathan McComb from Corpus Christi, Texas, is one of the volunteers with Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) that is helping to respond to the July 4 flash floods that devastated parts of central Texas.

      McComb's mission with TEXSAR is also deeply personal. Ten years ago, McComb, his wife and two children were swept away by a flash flood on the Blanco River. McComb was the only one to survive the 2015 disaster.

      “Great organization to get involved with and try and help others in tragic situations,” he said during a phone interview with KIII 3 News from the field.

      McComb added, "I just think they need to know that there are a lot of people out here that are working hard and very vigilant and help find those who are missing or lost."

      “I told myself when I was in the hospital — once I got out and saw what they were doing — I needed to join them to give back and to help others,” McCombs said.

    • Dylan Stableford
      Dylan Stableford

      Laura Bush was a counselor at Camp Mystic

      Former first lady Laura Bush once worked as a drama counselor at Camp Mystic, Jenna Bush Hager revealed on NBC's "Today" show oMonday.

      “My mom was a counselor there, but also so many of my friends were raised at this camp,” Bush Hager said of Camp Mystic, where at least 27 children and counselors died in the July 4 floods.

      “Texas camps are institutions," she said. "This camp was 100 years old, so grandmothers, mothers, kids have all gone there.”

      Former President George W. Bush released a statement Sunday saying he and Laura Bush were “heartbroken” over the deadly floods.

      “On this day of prayer, Laura and I are holding up our fellow Texans who are hurting,” the former president said. “We are heartbroken by the loss of life and the agony so many are feeling. Those who have lost their precious children are facing a grief no parents should ever know. We are grateful to the first responders and volunteers who are working to find the missing and comfort the grieving at Camp Mystic and along the Guadalupe. We know our words cannot help, but we believe the prayers of so many Americans will.”

    • Dylan Stableford
      Dylan Stableford

      Police tell flood damage 'sightseers' to stay away: 'If you’re not from here, don’t come here'

      Onlookers view damage along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on Sunday. (Rodolfo Gonzalez/AP)
      Onlookers view damage along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on Sunday. (Rodolfo Gonzalez/AP)

      In a post on its Facebook page, the Kerrville Police Department said that "sightseers" traveling to the city to see flood damage are hampering search and rescue efforts.

      "Our first responders were hampered by heavy traffic yesterday, mostly sightseers who are making things worse," officials wrote. "If you’re not from here, don’t come here to see flood damage. If you live here, avoid the river corridor so our first responders can do their jobs."

      The post added that Kerr County remains under a temporary flight restriction.

      "This means no drones. They are interfering with our air operations," the post said.

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