Texas Flooding Tragedy: Dozens Dead, Children Missing, and a State in Mourning

What started as a routine summer storm has turned into one of the deadliest natural disasters in Texas history. Flash floods ripped through the central region, leaving at least 82 dead, 41 missing, and thousands reeling from loss, displacement, and devastation. Among the hardest-hit areas: Kerr County and the now-ravaged Camp Mystic—an all-girls Christian summer retreat along the Guadalupe River.

As search operations continue, Texas faces not only a physical but emotional deluge that’s gripped the entire nation.

A Summer Camp Turns Into a Site of Sorrow

What was supposed to be a week of campfires and friendship turned into tragedy. As floodwaters slammed into Camp Mystic, cabins were torn apart, and dozens of young girls were swept away. So far, at least 28 children have been confirmed dead, with several others still missing. Among them: 8-year-old Blakely McCrory and counselor Dick Eastland, who is believed to have given his life trying to save campers.

Heartbreaking tributes have poured in from families and public figures alike. Matthew McConaughey urged Texans to “lend a helping hand,” while Pope Leo XIV and former presidents Obama and Bush offered prayers.

Rising Death Toll, Unfolding Chaos

As of Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed 82 deaths across Central Texas, with more than 850 people rescued by state and federal responders. The National Weather Service is being praised for providing advance warnings, but the volume and force of the rainfall overwhelmed infrastructure and left residents with little time to react.

The Guadalupe River and Johnson Creek are still rising, and officials are warning of a potential “wall of water” threatening downstream communities.

Political Response and Federal Aid

President Trump declared a major disaster in Texas, unlocking federal resources under the Stafford Act. Swiftwater rescue teams from Virginia and Florida have been deployed, while FEMA has begun coordinating large-scale relief.

Despite this, frustration simmers. Some have criticized outdated federal weather systems, prompting the administration to pledge modernization.

A Long Road Ahead

In the aftermath, stories of loss—like that of Julian Ryan, who sacrificed himself to save his family—stand alongside calls for hope and unity. Country star Robert Earl Keen has announced a benefit concert, and grassroots rescue missions are unfolding across the state.

But with children still missing and weather threats far from over, Texas remains in the grip of one of its darkest weeks.