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27 girls missing at Texas Christian summer camp as rescuers search through debris

Michie

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850 rescued in Texas flooding; pastors across Texas call for prayer

At least 27 girls remained missing early Sunday after floodwaters devastated Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas. As search and rescue efforts entered a third day, the disaster was already among the deadliest in the state’s recent history, with pastors across the state urging prayers for affected families.

Officials said 27 girls from the camp, which hosted around 750 children, had not been accounted for after the Guadalupe River rose nearly 25 feet in 45 minutes on Friday, sweeping through the campgrounds and the surrounding Hill Country, where at least 850 people have been rescued and dozens confirmed dead, according to Texas Public Radio.

Camp Mystic was founded nearly a century ago by a University of Texas football coach along the banks of the Guadalupe River, with the goal of providing young girls with a “wholesome Christian atmosphere.” Campers are encouraged to live up to three guiding principles: to become better individuals through their time at Mystic, to let the camp bring out their best qualities, and to experience spiritual growth.

Continued below.
 

Vambram

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Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said as of 9 a.m. Sunday, 59 victims were confirmed dead in his county — 38 adults and 21 children.

At least five of the 750 girls attending Camp Mystic — the Christian camp in Hunt that Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said was "horrendously ravaged in ways unlike I've seen in any natural disaster" — are confirmed dead. Eleven girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic were still missing as of Sunday afternoon.

Those numbers might have been much higher were it not for the camp's 70-year-old co-owner Dick Eastland, whom U.S. Rep. August Plufger (R-Tex.) indicated "no doubt gave his life attempting to save his campers."

Texas Public Radio reported that Eastland was among the dead. His co-owner and wife Tweety Eastland was found safe at their home.

Paige Sumner paid tribute to Dick Eastland in a column for the Kerrville Daily Times: "It doesn't surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers. He had already saved so many lives with the gift of Camp Mystic."

Campers also benefited from the heroism of 400 first responders and 20 agencies at work in Kerr County, including the U.S. Coast Guard, which conducted at least 12 flights near the Kerrville area.
While an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew worked to whisk away 15 campers on Friday, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer reportedly remained on the ground, providing medical assistance and helping with the evacuation efforts of 230 victims into assisting agencies' air assets.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later singled out Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Office Scott Ruskin, noting he "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," said Noem. "His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the USCG."

 

The Barbarian

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This didn't have to happen.
Officials in Texas are casting blame on the National Weather Service (NWS) for failing to forecast catastrophic flooding that has killed at least 27 people.

NWS was among the government agencies targeted by the Department of Government Efficiency in its effort to gut the federal bureaucracy, losing approximately 600 staffers.

After the cuts, the agency—which was already understaffed—began to prepare to offer “degraded” forecasting services, facing “severe shortages” of meteorologists, according to an internal document obtained by The New York Times in April.

Trump is only indirectly responsible for this. The pack of incompetents Elon Musk put to work gutting essential services are to blame here.
 
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Michie

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The Barbarian

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Those numbers might have been much higher were it not for the camp's 70-year-old co-owner Dick Eastland, whom U.S. Rep. August Plufger (R-Tex.) indicated "no doubt gave his life attempting to save his campers."

Texas Public Radio reported that Eastland was among the dead. His co-owner and wife Tweety Eastland was found safe at their home.
In these tragedies, there is often a shining example of courage and selflessness for us. God bless and keep Mr. Eastland.
 
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Vambram

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This didn't have to happen.
Officials in Texas are casting blame on the National Weather Service (NWS) for failing to forecast catastrophic flooding that has killed at least 27 people.

NWS was among the government agencies targeted by the Department of Government Efficiency in its effort to gut the federal bureaucracy, losing approximately 600 staffers.

After the cuts, the agency—which was already understaffed—began to prepare to offer “degraded” forecasting services, facing “severe shortages” of meteorologists, according to an internal document obtained by The New York Times in April.

Trump is only indirectly responsible for this. The pack of incompetents Elon Musk put to work gutting essential services are to blame here.
Here is an article which refutes the narrative from Democratic Party political representatives.


Please read the at about the halfway portion of the article which shows that there were extra amount of staff working at the NWS for the area responsible for Kerr County. That NWS center was NOT understaffed.
 
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The Barbarian

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Please read the at about the halfway portion of the article which shows that there were extra amount of staff working at the NWS for the area responsible for Kerr County. That NWS center was NOT understaffed.
Given the data already in the news, it looks like Fox News is doing the same thing that cost it hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

Texas officials are already disputing Fox News' attempts:

Texas Officials Blame National Weather Service for Flood Tragedy


They aren't democrats, BTW.

As Floods Hit, Key Roles Were Vacant at Weather Service Offices in Texas

Some experts say staff shortages might have complicated forecasters’ ability to coordinate responses

No one should be surprised.

The warnings were out long before this tragedy.
 
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Vambram

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Given the data already in the news, it looks like Fox News is doing the same thing that cost it hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

Texas officials are already disputing Fox News' attempts:

Texas Officials Blame National Weather Service for Flood Tragedy


They aren't democrats, BTW.

As Floods Hit, Key Roles Were Vacant at Weather Service Offices in Texas

Some experts say staff shortages might have complicated forecasters’ ability to coordinate responses

No one should be surprised.

The warnings were out long before this tragedy.
The article from NBC News posted on Yahoo is short with very few facts. The NY Times article is one that I cannot read because I ain't a subscriber to them. The NWS did there job. Unfortunately, when flood waters rise as quickly as they did to from normal floods to a catastrophic flooding at 4am in the morning, there was not anyone awake in Kerr County responsible for reacting to flood alerts. The DOGE cuts had absolutely nothing at all to do with this catastrophic flooding event.

Sadly, back in 2016-2018, the Texas Division of Emergency Management denied Kerr County's request of $1 million dollars to build and upgrade to early warning system in Kerr County.


 
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Bob Crowley

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We've had major flooding in the Brisbane and outlying areas three times in my lifetime. The first was 1974, again in 2011 and recently in 2022.

The 2011 caught everyone off guard in some areas. A town called Grantham was hit badly and several people died in the area. I don't think anybody expected the floods to hit as hard and fast as they did.

What surprised me the most was the flash flooding in Toowoomba which is at the top of the dividing range. I could understand flooding below Toowomba, but I was surprised at the ferocity of the floods which swept through the centre of town, considering it was at the top of the range.



There's not much anybody can do in these sorts of situations.
 
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The Barbarian

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Sadly, back in 2016-2018, the Texas Division of Emergency Management denied Kerr County's request of $1 million dollars to build and upgrade to early warning system in Kerr County.
There's plenty of blame to go around...

How DOGE cuts may have left Texas unprepared for flooding


The Trump administration had begun to repair some off the damage. One month ago...

125 new meteorologists hired at NWS, after losing 500 employees to layoffs


Too little, too late.

Stabilizing 'operations,' the National Weather Service hires again after Trump cuts


Debate erupts over role job cuts played in weather forecasts ahead of deadly Texas floods

Devastating flooding in Central Texas over the weekend has left nearly 100 people dead and dozens still missing. (Scripps News)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former federal officials and outside experts have warned for months that President Donald Trump’s deep staffing cuts to the National Weather Service could endanger lives.
After torrential rains and flash flooding struck Friday in the Texas Hill Country, the weather service came under fire from local officials who criticized what they described as inadequate forecasts, though most in the Republican-controlled state stopped sort of blaming Trump’s cuts.

Sadly, back in 2016-2018, the Texas Division of Emergency Management denied Kerr County's request of $1 million dollars to build and upgrade to early warning system in Kerr County.
It was 2017. Not sure that we can blame Trump for that one. Someone in his cabinet would probably be responsible. And yes, Trump was culpable mainly for trusting Musk and his DOGE fiasco. It's not just the weather service. Again, to Trump's credit, he seems to be rehiring essential personal in FAA and other departments. Hopefully, we won't see another disaster like this one.
 
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Vambram

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There's plenty of blame to go around...

How DOGE cuts may have left Texas unprepared for flooding


The Trump administration had begun to repair some off the damage. One month ago...

125 new meteorologists hired at NWS, after losing 500 employees to layoffs


Too little, too late.

Stabilizing 'operations,' the National Weather Service hires again after Trump cuts


Debate erupts over role job cuts played in weather forecasts ahead of deadly Texas floods

Devastating flooding in Central Texas over the weekend has left nearly 100 people dead and dozens still missing. (Scripps News)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former federal officials and outside experts have warned for months that President Donald Trump’s deep staffing cuts to the National Weather Service could endanger lives.
After torrential rains and flash flooding struck Friday in the Texas Hill Country, the weather service came under fire from local officials who criticized what they described as inadequate forecasts, though most in the Republican-controlled state stopped sort of blaming Trump’s cuts.


It was 2017. Not sure that we can blame Trump for that one. Someone in his cabinet would probably be responsible. And yes, Trump was culpable mainly for trusting Musk and his DOGE fiasco. It's not just the weather service. Again, to Trump's credit, he seems to be rehiring essential personal in FAA and other departments. Hopefully, we won't see another disaster like this one.
Sadly, you appear to have a very strong anti-Trump bias.
 
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The Barbarian

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Sadly, you appear to have a very strong anti-Trump bias.
I'm just showing you the facts. And if you read carefully, you'll notice I pointed out that he's not directly responsible for this; DOGE was someone else's deal. Trump is guilty of letting those guys loose in the federal government, but he didn't do this himself. And to Trump's credit, he's now rehiring in the FAA, Weather Service, and other agencies that were dangerously damaged by DOGE.
 
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Vambram

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I'm just showing you the facts. And if you read carefully, you'll notice I pointed out that he's not directly responsible for this; DOGE was someone else's deal. Trump is guilty of letting those guys loose in the federal government, but he didn't do this himself. And to Trump's credit, he's now rehiring in the FAA, Weather Service, and other agencies that were dangerously damaged by DOGE.
I believe that you are not recognizing other facts which disagree with the negative reports concerning DOGE.
 
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The Barbarian

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And Texas Governor Greg Abbot says we shouldn't be blaming anyone.

(not when everyone one could possibly blame is a republican)

Greg Abbott Rebukes Question About 'Blame' As 161 Missing After Texas Flood

Abbott told a reporter: "You asked and I'm going to use your words, 'Who's to blame?' Know this, that's the word choice of losers."

He continued, in part: "Let me explain one thing about Texas. Every square inch of our state cares about football. Every football team makes mistakes. The losing teams are the ones who try to point out who is to blame. The championship teams are the ones who say don't worry about it, we got this."

Since Friday's devastating floods, there have been multiple attempts to point the finger at an agency responsible for the loss of life—from a lack of staffing at the National Weather Service (NWS) as a result of the Trump administration cuts, to local leaders failing to act swiftly.

Abbott's statement that placing blame was not necessary right now comes after he repeatedly blamed former President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party for issues at the southwest border.

Following a winter storm in February 2021, one month into Biden's term, Abbott place the blame for widespread loss of power on the Green New Deal, which he linked to Biden, despite it not being implemented in Texas.


Abbot figures losers blame people. It's an admission, not an accusation.
 
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The Barbarian

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And now, Trump is suggesting the flood disaster is Biden's fault:
Trump appeared to blame President Biden on July 6 for the tragic flooding in Texas, going so far as to say: "If you look at that water situation, that was really the Biden setup.”
 
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