Not less than 20 women are lacking from an all-girls Christian summer time camp in south Texas after catastrophic floods struck the world within the wake of extreme in a single day storms.
In a press convention Friday afternoon, Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor of Texas, mentioned “20-some” women attending Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, remained unaccounted for, later estimating the determine was “about 23.”
At a separate press convention in Kerr County on Friday afternoon, County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha Jr. mentioned there had been 13 fatalities, with out providing extra data, and warned there could possibly be extra.
Patrick mentioned victims, together with youngsters, had already been positioned, “some in vehicles washed out upstream.”
“We don’t know the place these our bodies got here from,” he mentioned, with out ruling out that some might have come from the camp.
“This can be a mass casualty occasion,” mentioned Freeman Martin, Texas’ director of public security.
Patrick mentioned 18 helicopters and 400 to 500 rescue staff are participating within the search-and-rescue mission, and that some people had already been rescued from bushes.
Patrick mentioned he has been in contact with President Donald Trump, who mentioned the White Home would ship any federal assets officers wanted.
Earlier within the day, the camp, the place roughly 750 youngsters had been staying, issued an announcement telling mother and father: “In case your daughter shouldn’t be accounted for, you’ve been notified,” whereas indicating women positioned in different components of the camp had been discovered secure.
The officers mentioned the close by freeway was washed away and that the world remained with out energy, water or web and was “struggling” to get extra assist.
“Please proceed to wish and ship any assist when you have contacts to take action,” the officers wrote.
The camp, for ladies between the ages of seven and 17, was because of have a good time its a hundredth anniversary subsequent yr. It’s positioned close to the Guadalupe River, which authorities mentioned surged as a lot as 22 toes in simply half an hour Friday morning to a top of 30 toes within the close by city of Consolation in Kerr County, breaking a file that had stood for many years.
The Division of Homeland Safety mentioned Friday afternoon that Secretary Kristi Noem had activated the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Administration Company “to attempt to get these women to security” and was coordinating with state and native leaders.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, additionally issued a assertion on X shortly after 4 p.m. ET.
“Please pray proper now for everybody within the Hill Nation, particularly Camp Mystic,” he wrote. “As we speak, I’ve spoken with Gov Abbott, Lt. Gov Patrick, the top of TDEM & President Trump. A number of helicopters are performing search & rescue. President Trump dedicated ANYTHING Texas wants.”
In a press convention earlier Friday, Kerr County Decide Rob Kelly confirmed six deaths from the catastrophic flooding, with the toll anticipated to rise, in keeping with the Austin American-Statesman.
Requested in regards to the lacking women, Kelly confirmed some remained unaccounted for.
“We all know that there are some lacking,” he mentioned. “We all know the place a few of them are; they’re stranded, and we’re working to verify that with individuals out at Camp Mystic. However by way of what number of, precisely what number of are lacking and unaccounted for, we’re unsure about that quantity, however now we have a bunch of them we’re making an attempt to get again.”
Flood warnings all through the state stay in place by means of the weekend.
“There’s an ongoing menace for potential flash flooding from San Antonio to Waco for the following 24 to 48 hours, along with the continued dangers in west and central Texas,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick mentioned in an announcement.
