Texas Floods Killed at Least 95 People

Search-and-rescue teams combed through debris-ridden parts of central Texas today to find remaining survivors of Friday’s catastrophic flash floods. The death toll from the surging waters reached 95 this afternoon, including at least 27 campers and staff members from Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian summer camp. Ten campers and one counselor remain missing.

Several of my colleagues are on the ground in the region. Follow here for their updates.

More than 850 people have been rescued by emergency responders. Many of the stories have been astonishing: A Coast Guard swimmer saved 165 people at the summer camp; a 22-year-old woman was rescued after being swept 20 miles downriver and clinging to a tree overnight; and a young girl was found after floating on a mattress for hours.

But the mayor of Kerrville, Texas — one of the hardest hit areas — warned residents to expect a “rough week” as chances faded of finding anyone alive. Some of the attention has turned to the decision by local officials to reject the idea of building a flood warning system.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of Texas said flood-warning sirens along the Guadalupe River might have saved lives, and needed to be in place by next summer. Kerr County officials had considered installing them in the past but balked at the price tag.

For more on the floods:

• A new Times analysis showed how torrential rain quickly turned the Guadalupe River from a small stream into a destructive force. About 120,000 cubic feet of water per second came rushing downstream, greater than the average flow rate across Niagara Falls.

• Here’s what we know about the victims.