The death toll in Texas floods that struck the region on Friday climbed to at least 100 with multiple missing, including girls attending a summer camp. The floods happened along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio.
The Texas Hill Country, located in central Texas, is naturally prone to flash flooding because its dry, densely packed soil prevents rainwater from being absorbed, causing it to rush across the landscape instead.
July 4th flash floods were triggered by an intense storm that dumped nearly 12 inches of rain, most of it falling during the dark early morning hours, according to AP.
While one of the largest rescue operations has been launched by authorities, authorities are being scrutinized over disaster preparedness and why residents and youth summer camps were not alerted beforehand.
The 84 dead include 56 adults and 28 children, who died in Kerr County after the river swelled up following torrential rain during July 4 daytime.
22 adults and ten children are yet to be identified, BBC reported.
Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls' summer camp, stated that at least 27 girls and staff were killed in the floods. Furthermore, ten girls and a camp counselor remain missing.
BBC reported that the White House has rejected claims that the budget cuts at the National Weather Service slowed down the disaster response.
After a flood watch was issued midday Thursday, the National Weather Service released an urgent warning around 4 A.M., highlighting the potential for catastrophic damage and a severe threat to human life. By 5:20 A.M., residents in the Kerrville area reported that water levels were rising dangerously fast.
Torrential rain cascading down the hills surged into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise 26 feet in just 45 minutes.
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit Texas later this week. He too rejected the claims that the cuts in federal government could have hampered the disaster response. "But I wouldn't blame Biden for it, either," he added. "I would just say this is a 100-year catastrophe," BBC quoted.
Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz said in a news conference on Monday, that this is not the time for "partisan finger-pointing".
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that the President is not to blame for the floods. "That was an act of God," she said in a daily briefing on Monday.
"It's not the administration's fault that the flood hit when it did, but there were early and consistent warnings and, again, the National Weather Service did its job."
