1 week after flood disaster, Texas still hasn’t found any survivors

Despite mobilizing more than 2,000 search and rescue workers, Texas state officials are still being criticized for their initial response.

No survivors have been found after the flood.

According to Reuters on July 11, nearly a week after the flash flood that occurred in central Texas on July 4, local rescue forces have recorded at least 120 deaths and about 160 people are still missing.

Flash floods in Texas and the problem of forecasting

More than 2,100 rescue workers have carefully searched every area flooded with mud and rubble in Kerr County, but since the day of the disaster, they have not been able to find any survivors.

Josh Dozor, former deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), told Reuters that after a flash flood in the summer, it often takes longer to find survivors than it does after a disaster like a snowstorm or earthquake.

He noted that the number of missing people could still vary significantly, as many people reported missing may actually be safe but unable to be reached due to power outages, dead phone batteries or shelters.

However, Dozor worries that the chances of finding survivors will decrease as time goes on.

Reuters reported that Kerr County authorities announced at a press conference on July 10 that a total of 96 people had died in the county, including 36 children.

Among the dead were 27 campers and staff members at Mystic Summer Camp, while five girls and a caretaker remain unaccounted for.

Hundreds of people attended a memorial service at Tivy High School in Kerrville on July 8 to remember the victims.

Local authorities are facing criticism for their slow response and ineffective warning system, with questions being raised about whether the damage could have been limited if early response had been better implemented.

According to Reuters, the Texas state legislature is expected to hold a special session in late July to investigate the flood situation and discuss budget allocations for relief and recovery efforts.

In natural disasters, the number of people initially reported missing is often much higher than the actual number, because the verification process often takes a long time and many people may simply be unable to contact due to many factors.

Rescuers are still searching in the hope of finding more survivors.

Read the original article here.

The list of missing people may change as many cases have not been able to contact relatives and friends immediately after the disaster – Photo: Reuters
Rescue forces search for missing people after severe flash floods in Texas – Photo: AFP