As the hunt for victims continued painstakingly Thursday amid seemingly endless miles of rivers and debris, shock turned to anguish across Texas. At least 120 people have killed and many are missing as a result of flash floods.
A fence in Hill Country is now adorned with photos of the deceased, a vibrant assortment of flowers, and candles—a memorial that continues to expand, reflecting the magnitude of the tragedy in the area.
A 91-year-old grandma with a reputation for humor, three friends who had convened for the Fourth of July weekend, two sisters, aged 8, at summer camp, and one other person were among the victims.
Kerr County has the highest number of reported missing persons (170), with approximately 100 bodies found thus far. The number of casualties stayed at 120 on Thursday.
While officials claim to have thoroughly reviewed the list of individuals missing, exact counts are notoriously difficult to ascertain in the hours and days following a tragedy.
Search efforts included almost 2,000 personnel from federal, state, and local agencies. Working in the sweltering heat while surrounded by piles of trees, timber, and rubbish only made things worse.
Debris collected from the rivers was stacked in a small retail complex that had been devastated by the floods. In due time, officials intend to lay aside homeowners’ personal belongings in the hopes that they may be located.
At the first of many solemn events scheduled over the coming weeks, hundreds gathered at a prayer session on Wednesday, when they prayed, grieved, and hugged one another.
A youth preacher named Wyatt Wentrcek stated, “Our communities were struck with tragedy literally in the darkness.”.
The flooding impacted David Garza’s loved ones, so he drove over an hour to be there for them.
“I was here in the ’78 and ’87 floods; I’m from here,” Garza added. “I simply wished to participate in this.”
Green ribbons were worn by several during the ceremony in memory of the girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp that dates back a century and was the site of the tragic deaths of at least 27 kids and counselors.
Teenage counselors at Hill Country’s numerous summer camps were lauded by parents as heroes for guiding youngsters to safety and keeping them composed among the mayhem.
During the upcoming legislative session, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has urged lawmakers to allocate funds for the installation of early warning systems and emergency communications equipment in regions that are vulnerable to flooding. Additionally, Abbott requested financial assistance to support the reaction and recovery operations.
Through a statement released on Wednesday, he emphasized the need for improved readiness for similar incidents down the road.
Questions regarding the sequence of events, the lack of broad warnings, and inadequate preparedness have led to recurrent condemnation of local public leaders.
According to Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, such inquiries will be addressed after the bodies of the victims have been located.
Concerns about noise and expense prevented local officials from installing flood warning sirens, despite years of discussion about the need of such a system.
Trump is scheduled to visit Texas on Friday and has promised to grant the Lone Star State whatever assistance it needs to get back on its feet.
The rising frequency and severity of natural catastrophes is an increasing concern for the American people, and surveys conducted before the floods confirm that most people think the federal government should take the lead in these matters. Flash floods caused by Tuesday’s rains killed three people in New Mexico.
From Texas’s Hill Country to a small area west of Austin, the destruction was extensive. The Austin region and neighboring counties lost at least fifteen lives.
The San Gabriel River flooded two Georgetown RV sites, which are located just north of Austin.
The flood lifted Teri Hoffman’s camper, which contained her two pets.
Basically, the camper flips over and begins to float. According to her, the other campers then began careening into it.
The pets were saved by rescuers, and she found the final photo of her mother. According to her, her husband and children’s RV has been completely looted.
“I was unable to gaze upon it,” Hoffman expressed. “I had no choice but to go.”