Texas Flood Disaster: 82 Dead, Dozens Missing as Search Intensifies; Trump Deflects Blame

Rescuers in Texas scrambled Sunday to locate at least 41 missing people — including many children — after catastrophic flash floods swept across central parts of the state, leaving at least 82 people dead. The disaster struck as months’ worth of rain fell in just hours, triggering a deadly surge of the Guadalupe River and overwhelming a region already known as “Flash Flood Alley.”

The worst-hit area was Kerr County, where 40 adults and 28 children were confirmed dead, according to Sheriff Larry Leitha. Additional deaths were reported from nearby counties, bringing the toll to one of the deadliest flooding events in Texas in recent memory.

“You Will See the Death Toll Rise”

With helicopters scanning the flood-ravaged landscape and search teams scouring debris-filled riversides, officials warned the numbers could rise further.

“You will see the death toll rise today,” said Freeman Martin, chief of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that 41 people remained unaccounted for across affected regions.

A particularly heartbreaking focus of the search is Camp Mystic, a riverside Christian summer camp where ten girls and a counselor were swept away in the early hours of Friday. At the camp, floodwaters smashed cabin windows, submerged rooftops, and left behind scenes of mud-covered belongings and devastation.

Trump Blames Biden, Dismisses Forecasting Cuts

Former President Donald Trump, speaking Sunday, said he would “probably” visit Texas on Friday but deflected growing criticism of his administration’s cuts to federal weather services and emergency response agencies.

Trump dismissed concerns over weakened local warning systems, calling the floods a “100-year catastrophe that nobody expected.” He went further, claiming the crisis was “a Biden setup,” and stated he would not rehire meteorologists cut from the National Weather Service during his presidency.

When pressed about his previous plans to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Trump said, “FEMA is something we can talk about later.” Nevertheless, he signed a major disaster declaration to unlock federal resources for Texas.

Climate, Chaos, and Community Efforts

The National Weather Service warned of more flash floods as thunderstorms continued across the saturated region. Scientists say extreme events like this are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-driven climate change.

Governor Abbott echoed those concerns, noting that debris and impassable roads were hampering both rescue and recovery efforts. “We’ve begun clearing debris, but much of the area remains inaccessible,” he said.

Volunteers from across the state rushed to help. In Kerr County, Adam and Amber Durda drove three hours to join search operations after hearing that four young women had gone missing when their riverside house was swept away.

Justin Morales, part of a volunteer team, said he had found three bodies — including a Camp Mystic camper trapped in a tree. “We’re just trying to give families closure,” he said.

Officials urged residents not to use personal drones in the search, citing dangers to low-flying helicopters. Despite these challenges, hope persisted among exhausted crews determined to account for every missing person in what has become a national tragedy.