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“Texas Engulfed: 78 Dead and Dozens Missing as Abbott Confirms Mass Casualty Flood Crisis”
By Khadija Khan | FNF News | July 7, 2025
Texas is reeling under the weight of one of the deadliest natural disasters in its recent history. At a sobering press conference streamed live Monday, Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that the death toll from the catastrophic floods now stands at 78, with dozens still missing—including multiple children from a summer camp in Kerr County. Rescue operations are still ongoing across a devastated region where rainfall shattered records, rivers surged beyond control, and entire communities were swept away in minutes.
The livestreamed update, attended by top state officials and emergency coordinators, brought a mix of grim updates and pledges of unwavering response. But what emerged most clearly was a portrait of a state overwhelmed, with critical infrastructure compromised, federal coordination still ramping up, and a storm that may have permanently altered the shape of towns and rivers alike.
Governor: “This Is a Tragedy of Historic Proportions”
“This isn’t just flooding,” Governor Abbott said at the emergency briefing. “This is a mass casualty event. Texas is in mourning, and we are also in full-scale mobilization.”
The Guadalupe River, where many of the fatalities occurred, surged nearly 30 feet in under an hour during the peak of the July 4 storm. Officials said families at riverfront camps and cabins were caught without time to escape. Rescue teams are now searching submerged homes, trees, and collapsed riverbanks.
Among the most heartbreaking cases: 11 girls and their counselor from Camp Mystic in Kerr County remain missing. Divers and sonar-equipped teams have been deployed to comb the waters.
Infrastructure Collapse Across Dozens of Counties
More than 2,300 structures have been destroyed or severely damaged, including bridges, roads, electrical substations, and hospitals. At least 400,000 Texans were without power at the peak of the storm. Temporary shelters now house over 5,000 evacuees, with state aid supplies being trucked in around the clock.
The disaster declaration now covers 57 counties, a geographic sweep that includes both dense metro areas like Austin and rural, medically underserved communities.
Emergency Management Director Nim Kidd noted: “Our response is unprecedented in scale, but we’re fighting nature, time, and terrain.”
Federal Help Arrives—But Delays Spark Anger
While President Trump signed a major disaster declaration late Sunday, questions are growing about the slow rollout of federal boots on the ground. FEMA has begun deploying teams, but search and recovery crews remain stretched thin.
Governor Abbott acknowledged the frustration, stating, “We’re grateful for the support—but it came too late for some. That cannot happen again.”
The Texas National Guard has committed 1,500 soldiers, and air evacuations continue in areas still isolated by floodwaters.
Drone Interference Jeopardizing Air Rescue
In a rare rebuke from emergency officials, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick condemned private drone operators for endangering military helicopters. Several rescue flights had to be delayed or diverted due to unauthorized drone activity over the flood zone.
“Fly a drone here,” Patrick warned, “and you may be charged with interfering in a life-or-death operation.”
Meteorological Failure Under Scrutiny
A growing outcry is now focused on the National Weather Service, whose forecasting tools allegedly failed to predict the scope of the deluge. Critics cite Trump-era staffing cuts and outdated radar systems as reasons why early warnings were either not issued or not received.
The debate is especially heated in Kerr and Bandera counties, where tourists and summer campers reportedly received no official SMS alerts before the flood hit.
Community in Mourning, State in Action
Footage aired during the livestream showed neighborhoods reduced to rubble, rivers still running high, and local churches turned into command centers. In one video, an elderly man is seen sobbing beside the destroyed frame of his house:
“I built this with my bare hands. It’s gone.”
Yet alongside despair, there is resolve. Rescue dogs continue to work 16-hour shifts. Volunteers are forming bucket brigades to clear debris. And teams of chaplains and trauma counselors have begun offering services to families still awaiting word on their missing loved ones.
The Next 72 Hours: Rain May Return
While the worst appears to be over, the National Weather Service warns of another rain system forming over the Gulf, which could bring additional localized flooding to central and southeast Texas. Affected residents are being urged to stay away from riverbanks, and to heed any new evacuation orders immediately.
“This is not over,” Abbott said. “And when it is, we will have a reckoning with how we let this happen.”