The death toll from the devastating Texas floods has risen to 80, leaving communities shattered and searching for answers. The catastrophic flooding of the Guadalupe River saw waters rise an astonishing 26 feet in just 45 minutes, claiming the lives of many, including at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp struck hardest during the Fourth of July weekend disaster.
In a heartfelt statement, Camp Mystic shared their grief:
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.”
They also confirmed ongoing coordination with local authorities to locate missing campers and asked for continued prayers, respect, and privacy for all affected families.
The flooding dumped what would normally be four months’ worth of rain in mere hours, quickly turning into a worst-case scenario. While search efforts continue for those still missing, questions about responsibility and warning failures have sparked heated debate.
Some Texas officials have criticized the National Weather Service (NWS), claiming the agency underestimated the storm’s severity and failed to effectively communicate the danger to residents. However, meteorologists and former NWS officials argue that the forecasts and warnings were as accurate as possible given real-time data constraints.
“The original forecast predicted 3 to 6 inches of rain in the Concho Valley and 4 to 8 inches in the Hill Country,” Texas Emergency Management Chief W. Nim Kidd explained. “The amount of rain that fell was beyond anything forecasted.”
Wisconsin-based meteorologist Chris Vagasky added, “The forecasting was good. The warnings were good. The challenge is making sure the message reaches the people at risk.”
Tom Fahy, legislative director of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, confirmed that while two top positions in the San Antonio office were vacant, the weather forecasting offices had adequate staff to respond swiftly to the storm.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration, with Elon Musk involved in oversight of DOGE, made significant staff reductions within the National Weather Service, with nearly 600 employees laid off or retired. Critics have questioned whether those cuts contributed to the tragedy, but President Donald Trump strongly denied that connection.
Speaking to reporters at a New Jersey airport, Trump dismissed the idea that staffing cuts were responsible. Instead, he called the disaster a “Biden setup.”
“They didn’t [leave it understaffed]. I’ll tell you, if you look at that, what a situation that all is – that was really the Biden setup, that was not our setup. But I wouldn’t blame Biden for it either. This is a 100-year catastrophe, and it’s just so horrible to watch,” Trump said.
He also expressed uncertainty about whether the National Weather Service needs more meteorologists, emphasizing the suddenness of the event:
“This happened in seconds. Nobody expected it; nobody saw it. Very talented people are there, and they didn’t see it.”
Meanwhile, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem remains on the ground in Texas, working closely with local officials to aid recovery efforts. Whether President Trump will personally visit the disaster site remains unknown.
As the community mourns, our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and their families during these heartbreaking times.