Texas floods leave dozens dead, missing as crews search for survivors

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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.

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

Per Kerr County officials, total is 68 dead:

- 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:

- 4 dead

- 13 missing 

Kendall County:

- 2 dead 

Tom Green County:

- 1 dead 

Williamson County

- 2 dead

- 2 missing

Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report

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.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Christina Shaw. To continue reading, click here.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said he is praying for the people impacted by the catastrophic floods in Texas and the local officials and first responders coordinating a response to the devastation.

The governor posted a prayer to social media on Sunday.

"Dear God: I pray for Texas! I pray for @GregAbbott_TX @tedcruz @JohnCornyn and all the local leaders working to coordinate the disaster response. I pray for the first responders who have seen and endured unbelievably difficult situations," Reeves wrote on X.

"I pray for the families and the loved ones of all involved," he continued. "I specifically pray for the leaders of Camp Mystic."

He added: "Please lay a healing hand on all those affected by this tragedy!"

"Amen," the governor concluded.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said his state is keeping Texas "close in our hearts" and is prepared to "help our neighbors down south" amid the devastating floods that swept across Central Texas.

"Minnesota is keeping Texas close in our hearts as devastating flooding continues," the governor wrote on X.

"We stand ready to help our neighbors down south in any way we can as communities begin the long road to recovery," he continued.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey offered prayers for the families impacted by the flooding that swept across Central Texas, including one Alabama family who lost a young girl attending Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp in the Lone Star State.

Sarah Marsh, 8, of Mountain Brook, Alabama, was among the children killed in the floods that devastated Camp Mystic.

"Alabama joins in lifting up all impacted by the floods in the Hill Country — especially as we grieve the tragic loss of one of our own, young Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook," Ivey wrote on X. "We pray for her family, the other families facing unimaginable loss and strength as the searches continue."

Ivey's statement comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared Sunday as a day of prayer in Texas.

The Texas Military Department on Sunday announced that it has recovered 520 people following the devastating floods that swept across Central Texas.

"The Texas Military Department's rescue operations have resulted in the successful recovery of 520 individuals," the department wrote on X.

"These efforts included 361 air evacuations conducted with UH-60 Black Hawks and 159 ground rescues employing various vehicles and assets," it continued.

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday offered his condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the flooding that swept across Central Texas, killing dozens and leaving many others unaccounted for.

"I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters, who were at the summer camp, in the disaster caused by flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States," the first American pope wrote on X.

"We pray for them," he continued.

The White House Faith Office encouraged others to join it in prayer for people who lost their lives in the flooding that swept through Central Texas.

"The White House Faith Office asks you to join us in prayer for the precious lives lost in the Texas floods," it wrote in a statement posted to X.

"Amidst this tragedy, our nation must come together to pray for the victims, their families, and the first responders conducting rescue missions to find those still missing," the statement continued.. "May God wrap his loving arms around all those in Texas."

The Faith Office also included in its post the Bible verse Psalm 34:18, which reads: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Sunday announced the deployment of the commonwealth's water rescue teams to Texas to support recovery efforts after the devastating floods that swept across the central area of the Lone Star State.

"Our hearts go out to the families and communities in Texas who have been devastated by these historic floods," Youngkin said in a statement. "We stand in solidarity with the people of Texas, and we are committed to offering any and all support requested during this critical time."

Two Virginia Type III Swift Water Rescue Teams will deploy to Texas on Monday to assist with water rescue operations and support local responders.

The teams are equipped with specialized equipment and technical rescue gear necessary to navigate treacherous floodwaters, according to the governor's office. They will work closely with local and state agencies to search the areas impacted by the flooding. The deployment comes at the request of the Texas Division of Emergency Management through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact mutual aid system.

The governor added on X that Virginia "stands with the people of Texas in the face of these devastating floods."

Two more victims — both 8-year-old girls — were confirmed dead in the flooding in central Texas, according to the girls' respective families.

Sarah Marsh and Mary Kathryn Jacobe were killed in the devastating floods that swept through Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp.

"Our family is completely devastated by the loss of Sarah and her dear friends at Camp Mystic," Sarah's family said in a statement to Fox News.

"This is a tragedy that no parent can prepare for and it will never be right this side of Heaven," the family continued. "While we are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, we request privacy as we navigate the unimaginable steps ahead. We continue to keep the fellow campers, staff, and families in our prayers - for their rescue and return home."

Mary's family told Fox 26 the girl was "fun, compassionate and kind."

"We will miss her dearly," the family said.

The Department of Homeland Security argued that the mainstream media is "deliberately lying" about what led up to the catastrophic flooding in Texas that killed dozens of people and left many others unaccounted for.

"The mainstream media is deliberately lying about the events leading up to the catastrophic flooding in Texas," DHS wrote on X.

"The National Weather Service executed timely, precise forecasting and warnings, despite unprecedented rainfall overwhelming the region," it continued.

The agency also provided a timeline of the National Weather Service's "proactive response" to the storm beginning on Thursday morning.

"The National Weather Service provided over 12 hours of advance notice via the Flood Watch and over 3 hours of lead time for Flash Flood Warnings, with escalated alerts as the storm intensified," DHS wrote.

Actor Matthew McConaughey on Sunday urged his fans to "lend a helping hand" if they can following the flooding that killed dozens when it swept through Texas.

"At least 70 lives have been lost, many more are unaccounted for, and countless Texans are hurting - inside and out," McConaughey wrote on X.

"If you're able, please lend a helping hand where and how you can," he continued. "It's gonna be a long road ahead, but right now the shock, the pain, and the chaos need the steady hand of a neighbor."

He added that "Texans are some of the most resilient and generous people on the planet."

This comes after devastating floods swept across central Texas, killing at least 79 people and leaving 41 others missing.

Country singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen announced that he will hold a benefit concert to help his hometown of Kerrville, Texas, recover from the flooding and that all the money from merchandise sales from his current tour will be donated to flood relief efforts.

All merchandise sales from his current tour will go to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. He said the benefit concert is in the works, with additional details to be announced soon.

"The Texas Hill Country and namely my hometown of Kerrville, Texas, has been crippled by unprecedented flooding on the 4th of July," Keen said in a video posted on Facebook. "This has resulted in devastation across the area, and there are still many missing from the event, including campers from Camp Mystic, which holds a special place in mine and my family’s hearts."

Keen was originally scheduled to perform in Louise Hays Park on Friday, when devastating flooding swept through the park and surrounding areas in Kerr County, including Camp Mystic, where his daughters previously attended summer camp.

An 8-year-old girl who went missing in the Camp Mystic flooding in Texas remains unaccounted for Sunday night, according to her family.

Blakely McCrory's family said she has still not been found after devastating floods swept across central Texas, killing dozens and leaving others missing.

"Every parent dreads what Camp Mystic parents have been living with for the past two days," the family said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Right now, we have no updates on Blakely," the statement continued. "And, while it is difficult to be positive, it is not at all difficult for us to focus every ounce of hope, prayer, and positive energy we can muster on first responders in the field and the search for our daughter and her campmates. And, we encourage everyone to do the same."

Fox News' Ashley Papa contributed to this report.

An 8-year-old girl was killed as a result of the Camp Mystic flooding in Texas, her family confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Linnie McCown was a camper at Camp Mystic when devastating floods swept across central Texas, killing dozens.

“She was found and I identified her at the funeral home in Kerrville," Linnie's dad told Fox News Digital. "We are heartbroken."

Fox News' Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

An emergency services expert and former FEMA external affairs officer explained the danger of the potential of another wall of water forming after a flash flood warning was issued for Central Texas.

“Rescue crews across Central Texas are now facing a new and fast-moving threat: a delayed surge of floodwater, often called a “wall of water,” Jason Pack, who is also a retired FBI special agent and current first responder, told Fox News Digital.

“Even with clear skies overhead, heavy rainfall upstream can send a powerful surge barreling downstream hours later,” he continued.

In the Hill Country’s narrow river valleys, Pack said that water concentrates and accelerates, flooding areas that had previously dried out.

“It can wipe out roads, isolate search teams, and trap residents who thought the danger had passed,” Pack said.

Pack said that this delayed flooding now puts both rescuers and potential survivors at risk.

“Teams working in previously safe zones may find themselves suddenly surrounded or cut off. Victims returning home or trying to move around might be caught off guard by rising water that wasn’t there minutes before,” Pack explained.

“The unpredictability of these secondary surges is why emergency officials are urging Texans to remain cautious, even after the rain stops. The water is still moving, and the threat is far from over.”

The Kerr County Sheriff warned that the Guadalupe River and Johnson Creek could rise another one to two feet as rainfall continues in the area.

"There was additional rain in the upper Guadalupe basin this afternoon, leading to a rise in Johnson Creek," the sheriff's office shared in a Facebook update. "This water may lead to a rise of 1-2ft downstream when it enters the Guadalupe river in Ingram. Please be aware if you are near the Guadalupe River or Johnson Creek."

The sheriff's office also warned people to be careful about social media rumors and misinformation.

"Search and rescue operations continue, with a full response from local, state, and national first responders. We continue to have hundreds of officers, deputies, and support staff working every aspect of this emergency, along with air, water, K9, and other assets conducting search and rescue," the post also said.