The death toll from the devastating Texas floods has climbed to 82, with 27 of the dead confirmed to be young girls and staff members from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River.
Camp Mystic released a statement Monday, saying, “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.”
The search for survivors has entered its fourth day. Dozens remain missing. And it’s not over—forecasters warn up to ten more inches of rain could fall Monday.
The flooding hit hardest on Friday evening, when torrential rain caused the Guadalupe River to rise nearly 24 feet in less than an hour. Homes were swept away, roads vanished, and entire communities were caught off guard. Camp Mystic, nestled on the riverbank, was overrun by violent floodwaters.
Rescue crews are still working—using helicopters, dive teams, drones, and even horseback volunteers to search debris and riverbanks.
As families mourn, a political firestorm is erupting. Critics are blaming the Trump administration for cutting staff and funding to the very agencies responsible for warning Americans about weather disasters.
“It only took 9 days for Trump’s cuts to the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] to kill dozens of children in Texas when Tropical Storm Barry landed this week,” wrote Grant Stern, executive editor of Occupy Democrats, on X.
Ron Filipkowski, a former federal prosecutor and editor-in-chief of MediasTouchNews, added: “The people in Texas voted for government services controlled by Donald Trump and Greg Abbott. That is exactly what they’re getting.”
Rachel Bitecofer, assistant director at Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center for Public Policy, said the deaths at Camp Mystic were preventable. “What has happened to the girls at Camp Mystic is EXACTLY what one of the country’s best meteorologists, John Morales, warned would happen. Trump’s cuts to the NOAA & NWS have critically impacted storm prediction nationwide.”
The White House fired back, calling the accusations “shameful and disgusting.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem addressed the growing criticism at a press conference Saturday. She admitted that the country’s flood warning systems are outdated and said the administration is working on improvements.
As the floodwaters recede, one thing is clear: this wasn’t just a natural disaster—it’s becoming a political one too.
