Sat Jul 05 17:09:29 UTC 2025: ## News Article Summary:
Devastating flash floods in Kerr County, Texas, have left at least 27 people dead, including nine children, and dozens still missing, primarily from Christian summer camps. A torrential downpour caused the Guadalupe River to rise dramatically overnight, catching campers and residents by surprise. Search and rescue efforts are underway, with over 1,000 rescuers utilizing helicopters and drones to comb through the waterlogged area. Authorities are facing scrutiny over the timing and effectiveness of their warnings and whether adequate preparations were made ahead of the storm. The National Weather Service had issued flood watches but did not anticipate the extreme rainfall. The disaster brings back memories of a similar catastrophic flood in 1987 along the same river. President Trump has pledged federal support, and the Secretary of Homeland Security is expected to visit the affected area.
## News Article:
**Texas Floods Claim at Least 27 Lives, Spark Questions Over Warning Systems**
Kerr County, TX – A catastrophic flash flood in Kerr County, Texas, has claimed the lives of at least 27 people, including nine children, with dozens still missing as search and rescue efforts continue. The disaster, triggered by a torrential downpour on Friday, caused the Guadalupe River to swell nearly nine meters overnight, inundating summer camps and surrounding areas.
The hardest-hit area appears to be near Camp Mystic, where approximately 750 children were staying. As of Saturday afternoon, 27 attendees were still unaccounted for. The director of another nearby camp, Heart O’ The Hills, Jane Ragsdale, was also confirmed among the deceased.
“They are looking in every possible location,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, noting the difficult conditions facing rescue crews scouring waterlogged rivers and culverts. Helicopters and drones are being deployed in the search.
The disaster has sparked scrutiny of local and state authorities regarding the timing and effectiveness of warnings issued ahead of the storm. While the National Weather Service (NWS) had issued flood watches, officials claim they did not predict the extreme level of rainfall.
“A lot of questions are being asked about why there weren’t earlier evacuations,” noted Al Jazeera’s Heidi Zhou-Castro.
State emergency management officials had warned of heavy rain and flash flood threats, but some feel these warnings were insufficient given the devastating outcome.
The tragedy evokes memories of a similar catastrophic flood in 1987 along the Guadalupe River, where 10 teenagers drowned after a bus and van leaving a church camp were caught in floodwaters.
President Trump has pledged federal assistance, stating that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem will soon be on the ground to assess the situation.
“Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
As rescue efforts continue, questions remain about the effectiveness of the warning systems and whether more could have been done to prevent such a devastating loss of life. The NWS has maintained its flood watch for the area, warning of more heavy rain to come.
First Piper 