Texas flooding kills more than 100 as search continues for dozens of people

Click here to follow the latest updates on the central Texas flooding.

The Houston Astros organization pledged $1 million to aid with relief efforts.

"The Houston Astros organization announces they are committing $1 million to support relief efforts for those impacted by the devastating flooding in Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend," the announcement noted.

"The Astros will support immediate relief efforts and needs of our neighbors in Central Texas in the short term, along with supporting long-term efforts around one of the core pillars of the Astros Foundation - youth initiatives. Beyond the initial investment, the Astros Foundation will launch a fan-based initiative to mobilize our passionate fan base. Together, we will provide resources to ensure our Central Texas neighbors have the sustained support they need to rebuild and recover."

GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, posted three heart emojis when he shared a post about the announcement.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said Monday that his state sent a team to Texas to support search efforts amid the devastating flooding in the Lone Star State.

"This Louisiana crew is off to Texas to assist with search efforts after the tragic flood," Landry wrote on X, accompanied by a picture of the team sent to Texas.

"There are 14 Louisiana Swift Water Rescue personnel total with equipment. GOHSEP remains in contact with Texas to see how else Louisiana can support," he continued, referring to the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

The governor added: "Please continue to pray for all those affected and our great neighbors in Texas."

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Monday that his state is prepared to provide any resources to assist Texas with search and recovery, as the Lone Star State responds to the devastating flooding.

"Coloradans will always step up to help our neighbors," Polis said in a statement posted on X. "We are sending love and support to Texans during this devastating and difficult time. Our state is ready and willing to provide any resources to assist Texas with search and recovery.

"Colorado has faced natural disasters, floods, and wildfires, and we send our deepest sympathies to the families and individuals who have lost loved ones and had their lives impacted," the governor continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel is praying for Texas as it faces devastating flooding, noting that "Israel knows disaster," such as war and flooding.

"My wife Sara and I and all of Israel are praying for the Great State of Texas," the prime minister wrote on X.

"Israel knows disaster—we’ve lived through war, fire, and flood. Dear friends, we stand with you!" he continued.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said Monday that the loss of life in the devastating floods in Texas is "tragic and deeply painful," emphasizing that Arizona stands with the impacted communities.

"My heart is with the people of Texas," Hobbs said in a statement posted on X. "The loss of lives, including so many children, in devastating floods is tragic and deeply painful."

"Arizona stands with all who are mourning and the communities affected by this disaster," the governor continued.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said his state is deploying urban search and rescue teams to Texas to support communities impacted by the devastating flooding in the Lone Star State.

"California is deploying skilled Urban Search and Rescue Team members to support those facing the devastating floods in Texas," Newsom wrote on X.

"We grieve for the Texans who've lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods," he continued.

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said on Monday that he is praying for the people impacted by the flooding in Texas and thanked first responders for their "tireless service" in responding to the communities in need of their assistance.

"My heart goes out to the families and communities impacted by this devastating loss," Wright wrote on X.

"Liz and I pray for Texas as rescue and recovery efforts continue for those still missing, and we thank our first responders for their tireless service in our nation’s time of need," he continued.

A pair of Kerrville restaurant owners are supporting first responders with home-cooked meals as they work through flood debris, while helping staff who lost everything in the Texas disaster.

"On the day that it happened, we just started," Crystal Smith, who owns Billy Gene’s with her husband, told Fox News Digital. "We knew they were coming out, we knew they're going to be working 24/7, so that's the way that we can help the community."

Smith praised the men and women arriving in the area "to help our little slice of heaven" after a devastating flood swept through the area over the weekend.

"Everyone is very appreciative that it comes in, they want a home-cooked meal. People have been giving us hugs that have come in and gotten a meal saying ‘thank you.’ And we're really the ones to be thankful, we're thankful for them," she said.

While Billy Gene's was not damaged in the flood, a staff member lost everything. She said Billy Gene’s is providing the employee and her husband with a place to stay and covering their food costs.

This is an excerpt from story by Fox News’ Rachel Wolf

Severe flooding in Texas Hill Country prompted major rescue operations with game wardens evacuating hundreds including children from Camp Mystic using boats and aircraft.

Video from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Wardens show first responders in action and working tirelessly to rescue those stuck in the devastating floods.

“Over the past two days, Texas Game Wardens have rescued 302 people–numerous airlifted, including children from Camp Mystic–and evacuated four animals to safety,” the agency shared in a video showing the rescue.

The agency said there were over 150 wardens in the field responding to calls and supporting search and rescue efforts over the past two days.

"In the face of this devastating tragedy, Texas Game Wardens have poured in from across the state and we’re proud to stand beside our local, state and federal partners in this unified effort to make sure we’re doing everything we can to serve our fellow Texans," said Col. Ron VanderRoest, Texas Parks and Wildlife law enforcement director.

"This has been a heartbreaking few days, but through the devastation, I’ve seen the spirit of our communities and strength of our wardens, who are trained for moments like this. We’ll continue to work diligently and remain available and actively engaged for as long as we’re needed.”

A Texas father confirmed his twin daughters were among the victims of the Camp Mystic flash flood tragedy.

John Lawrence told Fox News that his 8-year-old twins Hannah and Rebecca Lawrence died in flash flooding at the camp.

“Hannah and Rebecca brought so much joy to us, to their big sister Harper, and to so many others. We will find ways to keep that joy, and to continue to spread it for them,” the statement read. “But we are devastated that the bond we shared with them, and that they shared with each other, is now frozen in time. Thank you for the love and support.”

Fox News' Brooke Taylor contributed to this report.

An emergency services expert and former FEMA external affairs officer explained the emotional toll the deadly Texas floods are taking on first responders.

“The emotional toll is heavy. Many of the responders are local. They’ve pulled neighbors from rooftops, searched washed-out creek beds for loved ones, and worked shifts that stretch into days. They carry the burden of being both rescuers and witnesses to loss,” Jason Pack told Fox News Digital.

Pack, a first responder and retired FBI special agent, said that behind the scenes, another mission is also unfolding.

“While the focus remains on saving lives, the Texas Division of Emergency Management and local emergency managers are already working to support recovery. They are documenting damage, estimating costs, and following a detailed process that could expand federal aid to more Texas communities,” Pack said.

“There is a lot of grief in Texas right now. And for some, that grief has turned into frustration. People are looking for answers. They want to know who should be held accountable, what could have been done differently, and how to make sure this doesn't happen again. That is a fair and necessary part of disaster response,” Pack continued.

However, Pack added that every major disaster in recent history has sparked the same hard questions.

“So far, FEMA’s response to Disaster 4879 reflects that progress. The structure is in place. The process is moving. Federal teams are embedded with state and local officials. They are working side by side to assess damage, support rescue efforts, and get help to those who need it,” Pack shared about improvements made since disasters like Hurricane Katrina.

“None of this brings back the lives lost. But it does show that the system is learning, adapting, and moving forward.”

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office shared a devastating update Monday afternoon, stating that 84 deceased have been recovered in Kerr County, including 56 adults and 28 children.

Officials said identification is pending for 22 adults and 10 children.

Now the number of dead has reached 104.

“At present, 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a statement on the department Facebook page.

“We share our deepest condolences with all affected by this tragedy.”

Authorities are also asking private boat owners to “stay off the Guadalupe River and its tributaries at this time to allow search and rescue teams to operate without interference.”

Officials said hundreds of local, regional, state, and federal agencies are working tirelessly to find all the missing people in Kerr County.

City officials warned drone operators to ground aircraft during flood rescue operations after an illegal flight caused a helicopter collision and emergency landing in Kerr County restricted airspace.

“PLEASE GROUND YOUR DRONES UNTIL CURRENT FLOOD SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS ARE COMPLETE,” the city of Kerrville wrote in a warning on Facebook.

“This afternoon, a private drone illegally operating in restricted airspace collided with a helicopter involved in emergency operations in Kerr County,” the statement read.

The city said that the helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing, and that a “critical piece of response equipment is now out of service until further notice.”

“This was entirely preventable,” the city said.

“When you fly a drone in restricted areas, you’re not just breaking the law -- you’re putting first responders, emergency crews, and the public at serious risk.”

A devastated mother recalled the last time she talked to her daughter before she went missing in the deadly Texas floods.

During an interview on “The Will Cain Show,” Tanya Powell, mother to 21-year-old Ella Cahill, described the last call she received from her daughter.

Powell said that her daughter was with her boyfriend at his home with other friends when flood waters swept the home away.

“That's the last we've heard from them and the entire house is gone. It's just a slab left,” Powell said through tears.

Powell said the bodies of two of the other kids who were at the house had been found and that they are just trying to recover Ella and her boyfriend, who were high school sweethearts.

“This just doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I guess I'm not supposed to understand everything,” Powell said.

Keli Rabon said she was a "mom on a mission" when she found out her two sons were impacted by deadly flooding in Texas.

Rabon told Martha MacCallum on "The Story" that her sons, ages 9 and 7, were staying at a camp near Camp Mystic that also flooded. 

She rushed from Houston to reach them, and credits the heroic actions of camp staff for saving her children.

"As the water started to come in, his brave camp counselors, who are really just kids themselves - college kids - they encouraged the boys to get on the first bunk, then to get on the second bunk," she said. "Then, before you know it, they were lifting the little boys up into the rafters to keep them out of harm's way."

She said both of her sons were safely evacuated. Listen to her entire interview above.

A beloved teacher and his wife. Two young sisters visiting their grandparents. Several girls from a riverside summer camp and their dedicated camp director. These are just a few of the many lives lost after powerful floodwaters surged through Central Texas on Friday.

The flooding was triggered by torrential rainfall that swelled the Guadalupe River, leading to rapid and destructive flash floods.

As of Monday morning, the confirmed death toll had risen to 82, with dozens still unaccounted for. As the waters receded, the stories of those lost began to emerge.

Tavia Hunt, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, revealed that one of the victims in the tragic Texas floods was a member of their family, 9-year-old Janie Hunt.

"Our hearts are broken by the devastation from the floods in Wimberley and the tragic loss of so many lives – including a precious little Hunt cousin, along with several friend’s little girls," Tavia Hunt wrote in an Instagram post.

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

This is an excerpt from story by Fox News’ Stephen Sorace and Brooke Taylor

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt  blasted Democrats and members of the media who have sought to blame President Donald Trump for the death toll from the flash flooding in Texas on Monday.

Leavitt called out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in particular, accusing him of spreading "falsehoods." She then gave a timeline of warnings issued by the National Weather Service in the days and hours before the deadly flooding, which claimed the lives of at least 91 people, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

"We have seen many falsehoods pushed by Democrats such as Senator Chuck Schumer and some members of the media. Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning," Leavitt said.

"Here are the facts. In the lead-up to this tragic national disaster, the National Weather Service did its job. Despite unprecedented rainfall, the NWS executed timely and precise forecasts and warnings," she added, highlighting a flood watch and press briefings conducted by the NWS in the region on July 3rd."Flash flood warnings were also issued on the night if July 3rd and the morning of July 4th, giving preliminary lead time of more than three hours before flash flood conditions occurred," she added.

This is an excerpt from story by Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom

Mercy Chefs founder Gary LeBlanc told Fox News Digital that his volunteers dropped their Fourth of July plans to start serving meals to first responders in central Texas following the deadly flooding there. 

“We were like everybody else, we were on our Fourth of July vacation with families and friends and we heard the news of what had happened. So our team left their plans, they left their barbecues. They started loading the mobile kitchens and loading trucks and making flight arrangements,” LeBlanc said. 

“We started out with first meals literally within 36 hours of the floods, feeding first responders and search and rescue teams,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“It’s been really hard, we see some of them come in, they’ll take a couple of bites and they just put their head down in their hands. You say ‘how are you?’ So many of them have seen things that they can never unsee now,” LeBlanc added. 

Mercy Chefs describes itself as a “faith-based, non-profit disaster and humanitarian relief organization.” 

Fox News Digital's Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday said that “Unfortunately, in the wake of this once in a generation natural disaster, we have seen many falsehoods pushed by Democrats such as Senator Chuck Schumer and some members of the media.  

“Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning,” she told reporters. 

"In the lead up to this tragic natural disaster, the National Weather Service did its job. Despite unprecedented rainfall, the National Weather Service executed timely and precise forecasts and warnings," Leavitt added. 

“On July 3rd, the National Weather Service office in Austin [and] San Antonio, Texas, conducted forecast briefings for emergency management in the morning and issued a flood watch in the early afternoon,” Leavitt continued. “Flash flood warnings were also issued on the night of July 3rd and in the early morning of July 4th, giving preliminary lead times of more than three hours before flash flooding conditions occurred. The National Weather Service office in New Braunfels, which delivers forecasts for Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding areas, had extra staff on duty during the storms, despite claims of the contrary.”  

“So to any person who has deliberately lied about these facts surrounding this catastrophic event, you should be deeply ashamed,” Leavitt declared. “At this time, the administration's focus will be giving on giving the victims and their communities the support they deserve during these recovery efforts in this tragic time.” 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the death toll from the central Texas flooding has reached 91. 

“Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem traveled to Texas over the weekend, and the entire Trump administration is working hand in glove with state and local officials to provide every assistance available,” Leavitt said. “The situation on the ground remains dangerous, and there could be additional public safety threats with potential incoming heavy rain. So we encourage everyone in the area to remain vigilant, listen to all warnings and respond accordingly.” 

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told Fox News’ “America Reports” on Monday that search and rescue crews are “not going to give up” in their mission in finding those still missing after the central Texas floods. 

“Miracles happen. We have seen them in past floods,” he said. “I know as the days go longer, many people are losing hope. But we are not losing hope. We are going to continue to work hard to search. This is a very tough area to search.” 

The flooding has left at least 89 people dead and dozens remain missing. 

Camp Mystic counselor Holly Kate Hurley told 'America's Newsroom' on Monday that cabins were “wiped away” at the all-girls Christian camp during the flooding in central Texas. 

“I was with my campers in the middle of the night, it was about 1:30 in the morning. And rain just kind of started coming through our windows. I woke my girls up, told them to close the windows and then the power just went out, all the fans turned off, running water didn’t work,” Hurley said, recounting the storm. 

“In the morning, they gathered all the counselors who were at Cypress Lake and they told us that two of the cabins with the 7-year-old girls were wiped away. And all these girls were missing and we went back to our cabins and tried to keep up good spirits with these young girls,” she added. 

“Luckily the flood did not hit my area of the camp,” Hurley also said. “I just remember waking up and getting out of my cabin... my campers were like ‘look at the lake, look at the river,’ and I just remembered seeing the waterfront was gone and the dam was completely flooded. The river was dark brown, like you couldn’t see anything. It was really scary.” 

The short time it took the Llano River to overflow and flood central Texas on July 4 is illustrated in a sped up timelapse video, allowing viewers to see just how dramatically and quickly the water level rose.

Unusually heavy rain decimated the state’s Hill Country region, triggering catastrophic flash floods that left at least 80 people dead over the weekend. Footage shows a section of the river situated near Kingsland, which is roughly 100 miles northeast of hardest-hit Kerr County. The water can be seen swelling dramatically in just over 10 minutes. 

"I record the crossing 24/7 with a security camera," Robert Ivey told newsgathering website Storyful. "The river crossing is also known as ‘the slab’ and is a local swimming spot."

In the footage, authorities can be seen blocking off the road and gradually retreating as rising waters threatened to overtake the area at an alarming speed.

Kingsland, located about 70 miles northwest of Austin, was among several communities impacted by Texas’ deadly flooding.

Fox News Digital's Pilar Arias contributed to this report.

A beloved teacher and his wife. Young sisters staying with their grandparents. Multiple girls from a riverside summer camp and their father-figure camp director. These are some of the dozens of victims killed as gushing floodwaters swept across central Texas on Friday.

The flooding originated from the swift waters of the swollen Guadalupe River as a storm pounded the region with torrential rain. 

The death toll has climbed to 89, with dozens more missing as of Monday morning.

As the floodwaters receded, more victims were being identified and their stories shared.

Teacher and high school soccer coach Reece Zunker and his wife Paula, as well as Lila Bonner and Eloise Peck -- who were best friends and cabinmates at Camp Mystic -- are among the victims.

Fox News' Brooke Taylor contributed to this report.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Monday that “everyone would agree in hindsight, if we could go back and do it again, we would evacuate” the people in the most vulnerable areas of central Texas that were slammed by flooding. 

“The young children in the cabins closest to the water. We would remove them and get them to higher ground if we could go back and do it again, obviously everyone would," Cruz said. “The people in RVs, by the river's edge. We know in disasters like this, RVs and mobile homes are particularly susceptible, whether a flood or hurricane or a tornado, they're particularly susceptible to that.” 

"And so my hope is in time, we will learn some lessons to implement [for] next time,” Cruz added. “And there will be another flood. There will be another disaster. But next time there's a flood, I hope we have in place processes to remove especially the most vulnerable from harm's way. But I think that's going to be a process that will take a careful examination of what happened and how can we implement processes better in the future to prevent this same loss of life.” 

“We know the National Weather Service put out an emergency warning just after 1 a.m. and a second emergency warning just after 4 a.m.. Now, obviously, most people at 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. are asleep. And so I think we will have a reasonable conversation about... are there any ways to have earlier detection and some of that -- the limits of a flash flood -- they're very difficult because they can arise so quickly,” Cruz also said.  

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Monday that more than 850 high water rescues have unfolded across central Texas since the flooding began over the Fourth of July weekend.

"Every time there's a tragedy, every time there's a natural disaster in Texas, Texans come together," Cruz said. "Texas is a big state. We got 31 million people and we have hurricanes. We have tornadoes. We have wildfires. Tragedies hit this state. Natural disasters hit this state. And without fail, 100 out of 100 times when that happens, we see Texans coming together, helping each other, engaging in acts of heroism."

"I want to thank every one of the first responders at the local level, at the city level, at the county level, at the state level, at the federal level," Cruz added.

Cruz also said during a phone call with President Donald Trump, he said "'Anything Texas needs. The answer is yes. Whatever assets you need, whatever resources you need, yes. Let us know and we will provide everything.'"

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said Monday that the flooding in Texas is “unprecedented” and crews searching for survivors are running into “a lot of technical challenges.” 

“We are still currently in the primary search phase, which is the rapid one. They are running it -- you know, we have different segments that are gridded out. Each one of those segments are taking anywhere between an hour to three hours, up to two kilometers for each segment,” Rice told reporters. 

“So what that means is they're running into a lot of technical challenges with terrain, with water, even potentially, you know, with weather, you know, in the rising fields,” he added. 

“Volunteers stay out of the way, because if we start getting weather reports and all the other complications that are out there, we then have to pull off of those search and rescue missions to be able to communicate to those volunteers, to get off, to make sure that they don't become victims themselves,” Rice also said. 

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said Monday that 75 bodies, “including 48 adults and 27 children,” have been recovered as of 8:30 a.m. this morning in Kerr County in central Texas. 

 “We're using assets from local, state and national first responders. Hundreds of trained first responders are working every aspect of this emergency,” Leitha said. 

“Of this... 15 adults and nine children are pending identification. At present, there are ten campers from Camp Mystic unaccounted for and one counselor,” he added. 

“We continue to offer our condolences to those affected. Reuniting the families remains our top priority here on this operation,” he also said. 

The Kerrville Police Department is warning the public against traveling to central Texas to look at flood damage, saying that “sightseers” are getting in the way of first responders. 

“Our first responders were hampered by heavy traffic yesterday, mostly sightseers who are making things worse. If you’re not from here, don’t come here to see flood damage. If you live here, avoid the river corridor so our first responders can do their jobs,” it said in a post on Facebook. 

“Kerrville and Kerr County is still under a Temporary Flight Restriction. This means no drones. They are interfering with our air operations,” police added. 

“Our search efforts continue across the county and across the city. Rescue teams worked throughout the night and ground teams are searching the river corridor. In town, our KPD team is doing the same, as well as responding to calls for service. We are not slowing down,” the Kerrville Police Department also said. 

The Texas Department of Public Safety said Monday that “Rescue and recovery efforts continue in full force in Kerr County” following the devastating Fourth of July weekend flooding.’ 

“DPS along with partners from several agencies including Texas Parks and Wildlife are combing through debris and damage as the mission is ongoing,” it wrote on X. 

“Texas National Guard service members assigned to Task Force Storm work in teams along the Guadalupe River bank conducting search and rescue operations and removing debris near Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas,” the Texas Military Department added on X, sharing photos of the efforts. 

A Texas summer camp near the Guadalupe River evacuated about 70 children and adults after camp officials noticed rising waters and a deluge of rain early on the Fourth of July. 

The 500-acre Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly, a recreation destination which had been hosting a summer camp, as well as a youth conference with churches across the U.S., is located at the headwaters of the river and had been monitoring the situation for about 24 hours, Mo-Ranch communications director Lisa Winters told KENS5.

It was about 1 a.m. Friday when a facilities manager, Aroldo Barrera, notified his boss, who had been monitoring reports of the storms approaching, the Associated Press reported. 

Despite the absence of warning by local authorities, camp officials at Mo-Ranch acted quickly on their own, relocating about 70 children and adults staying overnight in a building near the river. With the kids safe, camp leaders including President and CEO Tim Huchton avoided the catastrophe that hit at least one other camp near Hunt, Texas.

"They helped them pack up," Winters told the AP on Sunday. "They got them up, they got them out, put them up on higher ground."

Other places fared much worse. Flash floods roared through Texas Hill Country before dawn on Friday, decimating landscape near the river and leaving more than 80 dead and dozens unaccounted for.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz told “Fox & Friends” that the flooding in his state and the search for missing children is “every parent’s nightmare.” 

Ten girls remain missing from Camp Mystic in Hunt following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River. 

“I've been speaking with moms and dads -- number one of kids who are missing -- and the agony of not knowing where your daughter is. There's nothing like that,” Cruz said. “You tell them you're praying for them. You tell them we're doing everything we can. You try to connect them with the local sheriff, with emergency response. You try to make sure the resources are here.” 

“We've been sending our girls to camp here for ten years, and the girls that were killed, those are friends, those are neighbors --- they go to school with my girls,” Cruz added. “The entire state is grieving at a level that that is difficult to describe.” 

“We will come through this, but this is every parent's nightmare,” he also said. 

Texas flood survivor Christian Fell told "Fox & Friends" on Monday that he spent several hours clinging to the exterior of his house to survive. 

“I went to bed at around 1 a.m., and a couple hours later at 3 a.m., I wake up to the sound of thunder outside. You know, I don't really think too much of it. I just roll over and try to go back to sleep and I start hearing these really strange noises coming from deeper in the house. And originally, I thought someone broke into the house,” he said. “So I get up and I swing my feet over to the side of the bed and that's when I realized I was standing in water up to my ankle. 

“So I start to make my way into the dining room and looking around and I see the wooden deck that used to be there was just completely ripped up. And there's water flowing in from the floor,” Fell added. 

“That's of course when I called my mom and called my dad and he told me to try and get to my truck and go to my aunt's house,” Fell said, noting he was alone at the time. 

Fell told Fox News that he tried to open a door to the outside when a “wall of water” started rushing in at him. 

“I finally get back to the bedroom and I try to throw all my belongings onto the air mattress because it's floating,” he said. “I was on the phone with 911 and I just kind of realized they couldn't really do anything for me. And that's kind of when I realized I had to save myself or keep myself alive until they could come,” Fell also said. 

“Then I just kind of saw the window was broken and that was just kind of a light bulb moment. And I had nowhere else to go. I realized I couldn’t just sit there and swim for 3 or 4 hours until the water went away, or someone came to save me. So I went outside and just held on to the side of the building,” he said. 

The National Weather service issued multiple Flash Flood Warnings on Monday for counties in central Texas.

In Llano County, it warned that “Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.” 

“At 739 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area,” it added. 

“Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...  Llano, Gainesville, Buchanan Lake Village, Castell, Oxford, Valley Spring, Lone Grove, Baby Head, Stolz, Prairie Mountain, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Bluffton, Field Creek and Tow,” according to the NWS. 

The NWS also issued Flash Flood Warnings for parts of Coryell and Lampasas counties.

"Between 1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 3 inches in 1 hour," it said about those areas. "Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches are forecast."

The NWS’ office in Fort Worth said “A new Flood Watch has been issued for Central Texas through 7 PM Monday where 1 to 3 inches of rain are forecast, with isolated (10% coverage) amounts of up to 5 inches.  

“Flooding likely won't be as widespread today, but recent rainfall has worsened the flood threat. Remember, Turn Around, Don't Drown! Use extra caution at low water crossings & poor drainage areas and NEVER drive through barricades,” it said. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told “Fox & Friends” on Monday that the National Weather Service “did send out notifications” about the Texas flooding and “gave as much time as they could with the tools that they have,” but the agency is operating on an “ancient system” that needs upgrading. 

“The National Weather Service under President Trump has been working to put in new technology and a new system because it's been neglected for years. It's an ancient system that needed to be upgraded,” she said. 

“We can continue to learn from every single situation, but know that during these times when we are trying to help people heal from situations like this, the best thing to do is to look and see how we can help and how we can walk alongside people and get them some relief and make sure that we're doing all that we can to be more proactive in the future, but get through this terrible time right now as well,” Noem added. 

Noem also said the response is “exactly what President Trump has envisioned for FEMA,” which is “allowing the state to do the response and supporting them in every way that they can.” 

“This response was driven by Governor Abbott and his emergency management director and the local officials that were on the ground, and we were immediately there to fill in the gaps where they needed and to give them their disaster declaration as soon as possible,” Noem said. “Which happened almost immediately, as soon as the governor asked.  

“That's the FEMA and how it should operate rather than how it operated under the Biden administration and previous administrations, where it was slow to respond, slow to get resources there,” Noem added. “We already have emergency response teams on the ground that have been there from the very beginning. And then we want to empower the states to do the response that's necessary to best serve their people.” 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told “Fox & Friends” on Monday that President Donald Trump is willing to do all that he can to assist people in the wake of the deadly flooding in central Texas. 

Noem, describing the scenes as a “horrific situation,” said “I was there on Saturday and spent my time with the governor and the emergency management responders and a lot of the families that have been impacted.” 

“Some of the parents of those kiddos at Camp Mystic, as well. It was absolutely devastating,” she said. “We responded immediately as soon as a request came in with Coast Guard assets, with Customs and Border Protection assets that were specially trained for these kind of rescue missions. Also FEMA has been activated at an enhanced level.” 

“The partnership between the federal government and the state and those local officials is very tight and working hard to make sure that we're bringing some relief to these families and finding people and reuniting people with victims of this flood as soon as possible,” Noem added. 

“Make no mistake, how tragic this situation is. And the president is fully engaged and willing to do all that he can to help the people of Texas through this, because it is a national situation that everybody's hearts are just broken over,” she also said. 

Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, said it’s mourning the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the flooding of the Guadalupe River over the Fourth of July weekend.

“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly,” the camp said in a statement on Monday.

“We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls,” it added.

As of this morning, ten campers and one counselor were reported missing. At least 82 people have died in central Texas following the flooding that began early Friday.

“We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us,” said the camp, which describes itself on its website as a “private Christian summer camp for girls.”

Texas resident and YouTuber Brandon Herrera told "Fox & Friends First" on Monday that he has never seen anything quite like the flooding in Texas. 

“It was shocking to see. There was cars in trees. It’s hard to believe just how violent the water is,” Herrera recounted as he surveyed damage in central Texas on the Fourth of July. “I’ve seen floods before, I’ve never seen anything quite like this. The amount of force being rushing water, it’s breaking trees like toothpicks.... it’s kind of insane, the devastation.” 

“A lot of this stuff happened in the middle of the night. It’s hard to get the word out when everyone is asleep,” Herrera added. “Especially when, in certain areas, like around Hunt, I know there was massive power loss. All of these things can just aid to the perfect storm.” 

Petty Officer Scott Ruskan told “Fox & Friends” on Monday that “I was just doing my job” when he saved 165 victims from the extensive flooding in central Texas. 

Ruskan, 26, said he and his helicopter crew were “battling some pretty bad weather” for around five to six hours before he was able to get on scene in the Hunt area. 

“Once we got on scene, we were boots on the ground. We made the decision to leave me there, we figured we would be able to hoist more people out on our helicopter with me not on it and then I would be able to help out the scene at Camp Mystic a little bit better,” Ruskan said. 

“A lot of people looking very scared, very tired, cold. Missing loved ones. Probably terrified, honestly. And I was just trying to be a voice of calm and triage these people and get them to safety as soon as we could,” he added. 

“There were other crews getting in the water” on Friday, “risking way more than I was... they need that recognition as well” Ruskan also said. 

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told “Fox & Friends First” on Monday that cattle and livestock have been found “on the tops of trees” following the deadly flooding in central Texas. 

“We’ve lost hundreds of miles of fencing, barns, all kinds of buildings, structures,” he said. “We are still so focused on search and rescue of the over 40 people that are still unaccounted for, that we haven’t even had time to start calculating about the agriculture loss.” 

“But it’s been devastating," he added. “It’s a 26-foot wall of water, 3 a.m. in the morning, caught everybody off guard.” 

The flooding began in the early morning hours of the Fourth of July. As of Monday morning, at least 82 people have been reported dead and dozens more remain missing.

Disastrous flooding in Texas has left dozens dead, with others missing, but as the nation grapples with the tragedy, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., criticized Republicans and said flooding "incidents are likely to get worse."

"The Big Ugly Bill’s elimination of climate action laws and cutbacks in the National Weather Service couldn’t come at a worse time as the deadly flooding in Texas has shown. Those incidents are likely to get worse as Republicans ignore the reality of climate change," the congressman declared in a post on X.

Pallone has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than three and a half decades.

Additional rounds of heavy rainfall are forecast to continue across central Texas through at least Tuesday, raising concerns of further flooding in communities already devastated by storms that passed through the area during the Fourth of July weekend, according to FOX Weather. 

As of Monday morning, the National Weather Service said a Flood Watch is in effect for more than a dozen counties in the Austin and San Antonio regions, through 7 p.m. this evening. 

“There remains a threat of flash flooding from slow moving heavy rains overnight and through the day on Monday somewhere over the watch area. Difficult to pinpoint exact locations where isolated heavier amounts will occur,” the NWS said in an advisory. 

“An uptick in coverage and intensity of scattered showers and storms is possible overnight near the I-35 corridor and eastern Hill Country, developing west through the day on Monday. 2 to 4 inches of additional rainfall, with isolated amounts up to 10 inches, could fall anywhere over the watch area,” the NWS added. 

“Rainfall rates will be very intense in the heaviest showers and storms. Any additional heavy rainfall over hardest hit areas of the past few days will lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding,” it also said. 

FOX Weather’s Steven Yablonski contributed to this report. 

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., noted in a post on X that his granddaughters "are safe," but that they "lost their cousin."

"As you may have heard, my granddaughters were at the summer camp in Texas that flooded. They are safe, and I thank you for your well-wishes and prayers during this time," the lawmaker said in a post on Sunday.

"Unfortunately, not everyone was as lucky. My granddaughters lost their cousin, Janie, and many other families are grieving loved ones. Please join me in prayers for Texas. We must ensure that they have the resources they need to find those still missing and save lives."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., replied to her colleague's post.

"I’m continually praying," Greene noted. "Very thankful your granddaughters are ok! Very sorry for the loss of Janie. And all of those grieving! Truly heartbreaking."

The disastrous flooding in Texas has left at least 80 people dead, with others still missing.

Per Kerr County officials, 68 have died there:

- 40 adults (18 pending ID)

- 28 children (10 pending ID)

- 10 Camp Mystic campers unaccounted for, as well as one counselor

Burnet County:

- 3 dead

- 5 missing 

Travis County:

- 6 dead

- 13 missing 

Kendall County:

- 2 dead 

Tom Green County:

- 1 dead 

Williamson County:

- 2 dead

- 2 missing

A United States Coast Guard rescue swimmer from New Jersey is being called a hero after rescuing close to 200 people following flash floods in Central Texas.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, 26, was singled out by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for his efforts saving 165 victims as the only triage coordinator at the scene of the floods.

"United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin (Ruskan), directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas. This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene. Scott Ruskin is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG," Noem’s posted to her social media account on X.