In a rare moment of hope amid devastating Texas floods, two young girls were found alive on Sunday, clinging to a tree near Comfort in Kendall County — more than 24 hours after they were swept away by raging floodwaters.
According to Cord Shiflet, a member of the search and rescue team, the girls were discovered 27 feet above ground, holding onto tree branches six miles downstream from where they were last seen.
“They had been holding on for over a day,” Shiflet said during a Facebook Live broadcast. “They found them six miles down river.”
The girls’ names have not been released, but their survival has sparked a wave of hope in a region overwhelmed by tragedy. In a follow-up post, Shiflet wrote:
“Overwhelmingly thrilled to report two young girls were just found alive 27 feet off the ground in trees near Comfort, Texas. It gives all of us hope to keep working harder and faster. Keep your thoughts and prayers with everybody down here.”
Flooding Claims Dozens of Lives
The discovery comes as the death toll from catastrophic flooding across Central Texas has risen to at least 70, with dozens still missing. Shiflet confirmed that four additional bodies were recovered Sunday — including a man found in debris, two women in a submerged vehicle, and another unidentified individual.
Comfort, located in Kendall County, is one of several areas devastated by torrential rainfall that caused the Guadalupe River and other waterways to rise rapidly, sweeping away cars, homes, and campers.
Breakdown of Confirmed Deaths by County:
- Kerr County: 59 deaths
- Travis County: 4
- Burnet County: 3
- Kendall County: 2
- Williamson County: 1
- Tom Green County: 1
Among the missing are 11 girls and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a summer camp in nearby Kerr County.
Federal Response
President Donald Trump on Sunday signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, vowing federal support for ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
“These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost and many still missing,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders.”
He also noted that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the disaster zone alongside Governor Greg Abbott, who continues to oversee the emergency response in the flood-ravaged region.
