Additional Coverage:
- Photos show scenes from the Texas floods and the summer camp where 10 children remain missing (businessinsider.com)
Central Texas Flooding Claims at Least 43 Lives, Dozens of Children Missing
Tragedy struck central Texas early Friday as torrential rains and subsequent flash floods swept through the region, leaving at least 43 dead and dozens of children missing. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
Among the missing are approximately two dozen children from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp located along the rapidly rising Guadalupe River. Lt.
Gov. Dan Patrick reported the river rose an astonishing 26 feet in just 45 minutes during the deluge.
Heartbreakingly, the director of another girls’ camp along the river, Heart O’ the Hills, has been confirmed as one of the victims. Jane Ragsdale, remembered as a strong and influential figure, perished in the floodwaters.
While Heart O’ the Hills was not in session at the time, Camp Mystic was, and the search continues for the missing children. Most of those present at Heart O’ the Hills when the flooding began have been accounted for and are safe.
The National Weather Service reported the Guadalupe River reached its second-highest recorded level on Friday. Authorities are closely monitoring potential flooding around Lake Travis and have issued warnings of “dangerous and life-threatening flooding and heavy rain” across several counties. Search and rescue operations are ongoing throughout the affected areas.