Texas Governor Greg Abbott shared a dramatic video on social media showing a victim being airlifted to safety amid catastrophic flash flooding that has killed at least 24 people and left several summer campers unaccounted for.
The footage, posted to X, shows a person stranded and clinging to a tree as floodwaters rage below. Amid fierce wind and pounding rain, a rescuer is lowered from a helicopter and carefully lifts the individual to safety.
“Air rescue missions like this are being done around the clock,” Abbott wrote. “We will not stop until everyone is accounted for.”
The flooding, triggered by relentless torrential rain, caused the Guadalupe River to rise a staggering 26 feet in under an hour. The surge swept away cabins, vehicles, and mobile homes across parts of Texas where families were enjoying the July 4th holiday.
One of the worst-hit areas is near Kerrville, where 750 girls were attending Camp Mystic. At least 25 of them are still missing, and search crews continue to scour the area.
The flood’s impact has been widespread, displacing residents and destroying property across several counties. The scale and speed of the flooding has stunned both emergency responders and residents.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick confirmed to the BBC that the devastation unfolded in under an hour. “Within 45 minutes, the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet and it was a destructive flood, taking property and, sadly, lives,” he said.
Patrick also addressed the status of the missing campers, reassuring families that lack of communication doesn’t necessarily mean the worst. “If parents have not been contacted, it means their child is accounted for,” he explained. “That does not mean the others are lost. They could simply be out of communication.”
President Trump Responds
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump called the flood a “terrible thing,” and acknowledged that “it looks like some young people have died.”
He pledged full federal support for the state, saying he would work closely with Governor Abbott to provide emergency relief.
The search and rescue operation remains active and ongoing, with helicopters, boats, and ground crews working around the clock to locate the missing and assist affected families.
