Last fall, historic floods ravaged central Texas, resulting in at least 51 fatalities. This tragedy alone has catalyzed a tremendous 210-person search operation for the 11 still unaccounted for. Sadly, 15 children died in the flood that wrecked Kerr County. This region was hit hard by extreme weather and the brutal effects of climate change. The torrential rains increased the level of the River Guadalupe by more than 20 feet in less than two hours on the eve of the July 4 holiday. Today, families and communities are living with the heartbreaking consequences.
Hundreds of rescuers are still looking for missing people in central Texas. Officials have called these floods horrendous. The experience of these flood conditions are unlike anything most people have experienced under any other disaster. This particular event of September 2023 brought down more rain than originally anticipated, equivalent to several months worth of rainfall in the area. National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts in Leah’s D.C.
The flooding also devastated places like Camp Mystic, a Christian youth camp located on the banks of the River Guadalupe. As of the disaster, around 700 young women were living full-time at the camp. Local officials described intense rainfall that was well beyond the forecast from NWS. This recent, unexpected deluge has raised legitimate questions about how bad the predictions were just days before this record flooding occurred.
W. Nim Kidd, of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, pushed home the point that those forecasts fell woefully short.
“The original forecast that we received Wednesday from the National Weather Service predicted 3-6 inches of rain in the Concho Valley and 4-8 inches in the Hill Country,” – W. Nim Kidd.
He further noted that “the amount of rain that fell at this specific location was never in any of those forecasts.” These state and local officials are right to be condemning this gap. They are convinced that better and more precise forecasting might have given residents a better chance of bracing for an unknown but clearly catastrophic disaster.
Whether through the loss of homes, jobs, and security — the flooding’s severity has impacted families all over, including those who lost children in the tragic flooding. Huntingdon County sisters Blair Harber, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, missing. Tragically, they have now all been confirmed dead. News of his loss has deeply affected his family and community.
As Texans begin to put the pieces back together, their governor, Greg Abbott, who toured the devastation this week, shared in his sadness.
“I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in a summer camp in the disaster caused by flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas. We pray for them,” – Pope Leo.
In response to the disaster, Texas Governor Greg Abbott designated this Sunday August 27 as a statewide day of prayer for Texas. He described the scene as
“horrendously ravaged in ways unlike I’ve seen in any natural disaster,” – Greg Abbott.
This tragic experience has triggered a collective and necessary statewide reckoning about Louisiana’s state disaster readiness and response capacities. Kristi Noem highlighted ongoing efforts to improve forecasting technology to prevent future tragedies and ensure families receive timely warnings.
“We know that everyone wants more warning time, and that’s why we’re working to upgrade the technology that’s been neglected for far too long to make sure families have as much advance notice as possible,” – Kristi Noem.
Search efforts continue throughout Kerr County and its surrounding areas. In the midst of the devastation, communities have come together to provide aid to those affected by this natural disaster. Our local shelters are providing emergency shelter and a safe haven for these families that have been separated. Volunteers are on the ground supporting lifesaving rescue operations and comforting those who are mourning.