Local News
Central Texas Floods: Death count reaches 75 as rescue efforts continue
UPDATE: KERRVILLE, Texas — The confirmed death toll from the catastrophic Independence Day flooding in Central Texas has risen to 75, officials announced during a Monday morning press briefing. Rescue teams remain engaged in the critical “primary phase” of search and recovery efforts, despite ongoing rain and challenging conditions.
Of the 75 confirmed fatalities, 48 are adults and 27 are children. Authorities reported that 15 adults and nine children have yet to be formally identified. Additionally, 10 campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic remain unaccounted for as of Monday morning.
Texas State Highway 39 remains closed to the public as emergency operations continue. Officials reiterated that all necessary resources are currently in place and emphasized the need for coordination. Volunteers wishing to assist must register through the Salvation Army in Kerrville by calling 830-465-4797.
“We are urging people not to self-deploy,” said City Manager Dalton Rice. “What we need right now is a coordinated effort.”
The active search area stretches from Hunt in northern Kerr County to Canyon Lake in Comal County, covering roughly 62 miles (100 kilometers) in a straight line. Rice noted that the rugged terrain and scale of the disaster zone pose significant logistical challenges. Each two-kilometer segment of river and land takes approximately three hours to search.
Nineteen local and state agencies are currently conducting primary and secondary searches, including welfare checks on communities in northern Kerr County still affected by widespread power outages. As of Monday morning, 40 utility poles remain down in the South Fork area along the Guadalupe River, and there is no estimated time for full power restoration.
Despite the scale of the devastation, officials praised the support received from across all levels of government. More than 850 high-water rescues have been conducted since the flooding began.
“We remain hopeful,” said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring. “The primary search continues, and our thoughts and prayers are with every family still waiting for news. We are committed to finding every person and bringing closure to their loved ones.”
ORIGINAL REPORT:
A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway after historic flooding along the Guadalupe River swept away portions of Camp Mystic, a prominent all-girls Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas.
Family members have confirmed that Lila Bonner and Eloise Peck —campers staying in the “Bubble Inn” cabin—remain missing, along with at least 20 other girls.
The flooding was triggered by severe overnight storms that caused the Guadalupe River to surge over 22 feet in just 30 minutes Friday morning.
At its peak, the river reached 30 feet in nearby Comfort, breaking long-standing records.
As of 3:30 p.m., Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick confirmed that approximately 23 children are still unaccounted for.
A massive rescue effort involving 400 to 500 personnel and 18 helicopters is underway, with teams operating both on the ground and in the air. Some children have already been rescued from trees, while others were reportedly found inside vehicles washed away by the floodwaters.
“This is a mass casualty event,” said Freeman Martin, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported at least 13 confirmed fatalities, warning that the number may rise.
Despite earlier conflicting reports, families of the missing girls have confirmed that several campers are still unaccounted for. One such family confirmed Hadley Hanna of Dallas remains missing.
Kellyanne Lytal is among the girls still unaccounted for due to the flooding at Camp Mystic. If you, or someone you know, are in the area PLEASE keep an eye out for her. Keep her and her family in your prayers and call the above phone number if you have any information.
Camp Mystic, which was housing approximately 750 girls between the ages of 7 and 17, issued a statement to parents early Friday: “If your daughter is not accounted for, you have been notified.” The camp remains without power, water, or internet, and the primary access road has been washed out, severely hampering rescue operations.
Texas officials have been in direct contact with President Donald Trump, who has reportedly offered full federal assistance. The U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA have been activated and are coordinating with local and state agencies.
Senator Ted Cruz urged for prayers and support on social media, writing, “Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic… President Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs.”
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly confirmed efforts are ongoing to reach stranded campers: “We know where some of them are… but we are still working to determine the total number of missing.”
Flood watches and warnings remain in effect across much of Texas, including Hill Country, as the threat of additional flash flooding continues through the weekend.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area and keep phone lines clear for emergency use. Anyone with information on missing campers is encouraged to contact Kerr County emergency management immediately.
Please keep the families, rescue personnel, and all affected by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.