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Rescuers Scour Flood Debris in Texas as Hope Fades for Survivors
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By The New York Times
Published 2 months ago on
July 8, 2025

First responders look through debris along the bank of the swollen Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on Monday, July 7, 2025. Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian summer camp hit by the catastrophic flooding in Central Texas, confirmed on Monday that at least 27 campers and counselors had died, calling the disaster an “unimaginable tragedy.” (Loren Elliott/The New York Times)

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Rescuers were set to continue scouring debris from the catastrophic floods in central Texas on Tuesday, even as hopes for finding more survivors faded and the death toll climbed to at least 105 people.

As questions mounted about whether cuts to federal agencies may have contributed to the loss of life, President Donald Trump cautioned against casting blame. Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, called for an investigation into the administration’s efforts to shrink the National Weather Service.

Texas officials have suggested that forecasts from the weather service last week underestimated the amount of rainfall. Former weather service officials said staffing shortages had left gaps in communication with local authorities about flash flood warnings.

Officials in Kerr County, where most of the deaths occurred, said residents had previously resisted the expense of a flood warning system. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of Texas called for sirens to be installed by next summer. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said there would be a “careful examination of what happened” to limit future deaths from flash flooding.

The chances of finding anyone alive five days after the deluge tore through central Texas are increasingly remote. The dead include 27 children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, northwest of San Antonio. Ten girls and a counselor remain missing.

Scattered storms and showers have for days kept central Texas on edge for fear of further flooding, while also posing a challenge to rescuers. But the weather service forecast less rain in south-central parts of the state Tuesday, offering some relief for search teams.

Here’s What Else to Know:

  • Search efforts: After several tough days, Texas-based search crews have been getting reinforcements from across the country. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was deploying Missouri Task Force 1, a search-and-rescue team that includes firefighters, paramedics, physicians and engineers, to Kerr County on Tuesday.
  • The victims: At least 84 of those killed in the floods were in Kerr County. The other 21 were from nearby counties: seven in Travis County, six in Kendall County, five in Burnet County, two in Williamson County and one in Tom Green County.
  • Cruz criticized: Cruz is facing public criticism for being on vacation in Greece with his family when the deadly floods struck and not returning to respond in person for the first 72 hours of the disaster. His office said he returned as quickly as possible.
  • One family’s toll: Five members of a Texas family who were camping along the Guadalupe River are among the missing. A sixth survived after being dragged downriver for more than 15 miles.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By Rick Rojas, Soumya Karlamangla, J. David Goodman, Shawn McCreesh and Francesca Regalado/Loren Elliott
c. 2025 The New York Times Company

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