The search for survivors in the wake of the historic deadly Texas flooding has entered its fifth day, and coverage continues by clicking here.
KERRVILLE, Texas – A new threat of life-threatening flooding has emerged across portions of south-central Texas just days after a catastrophic flood disaster over the Fourth of July holiday claimed more than 100 lives and left dozens of people missing.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) raised the flash flood threat across portions of the Lone Star State on Monday to a Level 3 out of 4, and several Flash Flood Warnings were issued during the morning hours for counties impacted by flooding over the weekend.
Officials fear the death toll will continue to rise as hundreds of first responders, both on the ground and in the air, look for anyone who was swept away during the catastrophe.
On Monday, the Texas flooding event became deadlier than Hurricane Helene's flooding in North Carolina, with more than 100 killed directly by flooding.
"Texas is grieving right now," U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas, said at a news conference on Monday. "The pain, the shock of what has transpired these last few days has broken the hearts of our state."
In hard-hit Kerr County, officials said at the news conference that at least 84 people have been killed, including 28 children. Many of the children who lost their lives were staying at Camp Mystic – a Christian, all-girls summer camp – in Hunt and were sleeping when the disaster began to unfold.
"The children, the little girls who were lost at Camp Mystic – it’s every parent’s nightmare," Cruz said. "Every mom and dad – last week, we were picking up our daughter from camp here in Hunt. My girls have gone to camp here for a decade."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott toured the devastation at Camp Mystic over the weekend, saying it was "nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through."
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Deaths have been reported in six Texas counties – Kerr, Burnet, Travis, Kendall, Williamson and Tom Green. Across Central Texas, 104 people are confirmed dead.
And not all of the victims have been identified. Family members have been asked to submit DNA samples, which will be flown to a laboratory for testing.
The Texas Military Department said rescue operations so far have resulted in the successful recovery of more than 500 people, but the total number of people who needed help was far higher.
"Tragedies hit this state," Cruz said. "Natural disasters hit this state. And, without fail, 100 out of 100 times, when that happens, we see Texans coming together, helping each other, engaging in acts of heroism. There have been over 850 high-water rescues since this flooding began."
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Abbott made a disaster declaration for more than a dozen counties in the Texas Hill Country that were impacted by flash flooding.
"This is a time when we, as a state, need God more than ever," Abbott said. "The one thing I hear the most are the prayers that are being sent for those in harm’s way. There is an extraordinary collaboration to make sure that we address everybody’s concerns as quickly as possible."
The disaster declaration, which is in effect for 15 counties, allows communities "access to every tool, strategy, and personnel that the State of Texas can provide to them, which will be limitless."
In addition, President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County to "ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need."
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More rounds of heavy rain are expected to continue across south-central Texas through at least Tuesday, raising fears of more flooding in communities already hit hard over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
New Flood Watches have been issued across the region, with the threat of locally heavy rainfall continuing through Tuesday.
And downstream river and lake flooding will also continue through the next several days.
In fact, the FOX Forecast Center said that while the first rivers to flood have already reached their peak crest, the floodwaters are continuing to flow downstream.
The Guadalupe River in Bloomington, Texas, over 200 miles downstream from the river in Hunt, is not forecast to reach minor flood stage until Wednesday.
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