Efforts to locate 11 girls and a camp counselor continue with urgency. The group had been camping near the banks of the Guadalupe River, which was overwhelmed after nearly 15 inches (38 cm) of rain fell within hours

By Afolabi Ayodele

HUNT, Texas, July 6 – The death toll from the devastating floods that swept through central Texas has risen to 67, including 21 children, as authorities enter the third day of search and rescue operations for several girls and a counselor missing from a summer camp along the Guadalupe River.

According to Sheriff Larry Leitha of Kerr County, the worst-hit region in the Texas Hill Country, at least 59 fatalities have been confirmed within the county alone. Among the victims are 21 children, many of whom were attending a youth summer camp when torrential rains caused the river to overflow on Friday, coinciding with U.S. Independence Day celebrations.

Efforts to locate 11 girls and a camp counselor continue with urgency. The group had been camping near the banks of the Guadalupe River, which was overwhelmed after nearly 15 inches (38 cm) of rain fell within hours.

Elsewhere in the state:

• Travis County reported four fatalities and 13 people still missing.
• Kendall County confirmed one death.
• Burnet County announced two more fatalities.
• In San Angelo (Tom Green County), a woman was found dead inside her submerged vehicle, according to the city’s police chief.

Sheriff Leitha also noted that 22 victims in Kerr County — including 18 adults and 4 children — had yet to be formally identified. It remains unclear whether these individuals are included in the official death toll.

Over 850 people have been rescued across the affected areas, some plucked from rooftops or trees after being stranded by the sudden rise of floodwaters. The impacted region lies about 85 miles (140 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio.

“Everyone in the community is hurting,” said Leitha in an emotional briefing. “We’re doing all we can, but the loss is immense.”

The National Weather Service has extended flood warnings and advisories across central Texas, warning that ongoing rainfall could complicate ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.

In response to the unfolding crisis, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been activated following a major disaster declaration issued by President Donald Trump. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that federal resources are now being deployed to support local first responders. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and aircraft have also joined the search efforts.

However, the scale of the disaster has raised questions about federal preparedness. Critics argue that the Trump administration’s staff cuts, particularly within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — the agency responsible for the National Weather Service — may have impaired forecasting abilities.

Former NOAA Director Rick Spinrad said the administration’s downsizing of weather personnel had left many regional offices understaffed, potentially impacting the accuracy of extreme weather alerts.

“I can’t say definitively that it caused the delay in warning,” said Spinrad, “but cutting staff absolutely undermines the system’s ability to deliver life-saving forecasts.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the federal response, noting that a moderate flood watch had been issued before the rains began, though she acknowledged the system failed to predict the event’s true severity. She stated the administration is now prioritizing an upgrade to the country’s early warning systems.

Congressman Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, emphasized the danger of understaffed forecasting offices.

“In events like flash flooding, accurate and timely warnings are crucial. If you don’t have the people to make that analysis, the consequences can be tragic,” he told CNN.

As emergency crews continue to comb through debris and rising waters, Texans across the state are mourning what has become one of the deadliest flood disasters in recent history.

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