Public sentiment surrounding the Texas flood disaster is characterized by a profound sense of sorrow, anger, and frustration. Many comments express empathy for the victims while criticizing government negligence and a lack of preparedness for such disasters, which are perceived to be linked to climate change. Calls for better infrastructure and accountability are prevalent, along with a collective demand for change to prevent future tragedies.

Local government authorities

Emergency response teams

Environmental agencies

Holy fuck. Water is nothing to fuck about with. 

I hope they find the children and RIP to the people who were taken.

6inarowmakesitgo

I've said this once and I'll say it again, this year (at least in Mexico) is a dangerous year, my uncle and aunt's house got flash flooded, and our house nearly got flooded like 3 times now. The problem is the sudden hard rains, they are so intense that the water can't absorb into the dirt so it just starts to flow and accumulates

Adrian_Stoesz

We picked our daughter up from camp in the area yesterday. THREE of the bridges that we used to get there and leave are now washed out.

https://preview.redd.it/lnprofrfu3bf1.jpeg?width=1080&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=7abb140120764a4c2f54924e171e4ed5991af858

aletheiaagape

People will watch this and think, "that doesn't look so bad, why not just get out of the way?"

  
Which is fine . . . IF YOU KNOW IT'S COMING.  They didn't.  And, that water in the video is "pick your car up and send it a few miles down the way" levels of energy.

Antman013

And Don's Fish Camp is on Facebook encouraging people to get on the river 🤦‍♀️

They literally posted this while flood sirens are going off.

https://preview.redd.it/pok1l9lw13bf1.jpeg?width=540&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=9d48e1031c249335663e3919ac79a519bd75a944

mister_nimbus

Such a tragedy. As a parent, I can’t even imagine.

Appropriate_Ad_5394

This is so incredible tragic and sad. I saw two of the girls were found and rescued, and I hope that more will be soon.

Correct_Advisor7221

For us in Western NC, this is like Deja Vu. Until you’ve watched it happen and gone through its devastation, you probably don’t understand inland river flooding.

Iusedtorock

I can't properly express how terrible I feel about this being a father.

showmeyourkitteeez

That’s insane - like a tsunami from a river.

Low-Possibility-7060

Whomever took this video has way more faith in back-area county bridge than I would ever have. Speaking as an engineer... I would not stand on that bridge seeing that coming.

Oncedark

This is legit what a tsunami looks like, but river version. That water rush looks the exact same.

TacoTheSuperNurse

Lopsided_Mix2243

Wild how you can see the forward water surge and miss the debris field floating right behind.

Hempsox

Grew up playing in the dry creek beds &amp; irrigation ditches in the Rockies  …and if you heard Thunder in the distance?  You RAN to get out of there.  Downpour at a higher elevation could mean a wall of water and debris coming to sweep you away

LoadsDroppin

When you take your kids to camp- you worry about what they’ll eat, if they’ll make friends etc but never that you’ll never see them again😭

Deep-Exercise-3460

Those poor babies I can't imagine the terror or being awoken from your sleep to drowning. Those parents I just ... My heart breaks for everyone involved.

DizzyBr0ad_MISHAP

Years ago flood happened where I lived, came up 4 blocks across downtown.  I was by my office, and the creek was 40' high and about 150' across.  My coworker on his 3rd floor appartment was flooded out. I gave them my bed because he had kids. I slept in my sleeping bag for a few months.

tanafras

Hanksta2

Does anyone know if this region is prone to flooding or was this exceptional?

JK_NC

Can someone explain to me how this happens? Like I’m 5 pls. Like where was the water holding itself for so long before it started rushing down like some gates were opened? In my mind, I see rain, and then I see all water levels rising at the same time. I don’t mean to sound stupid, I just genuinely want to know how/what happened.

AlbinoGiraffes

I keep reading how flash floods happen often in this area but they have no alert system?

Ellieiscute2024

Don’t worry, Ted Cruz already bought his tickets to Cancun.

somebigface

River tsunami. That’s insane how fast it moves.

KingYesKing

Sometimes farther north, these walls of water have ice and snow on the leading edge. Real bridge busters sometimes.

[deleted]

I was following this last night and at like 2 am there was a thunderstorm just literally hovering in place that was dropping 7" of rain per hour. That's just insane amounts of water, I'd never seen a storm stay over one area like that.

Agentkeenan78

The same event happened on July 17 1987.
I was there.

If Mystik knowingly built their cabins in the flood zone, they should be crucified.

Hot-Comfort8839

I’ve seen similar type flash flooding in desert dry washes. No rain nearby but storms in the mountains. Most folks head uphill because that water is coming, usually with a lot of crap mixed in

Lagunamountaindude

My mother drowned last year because her husband drove through water over the road.  If you can't see the road, don't drive through it.  And if there's a chance due to rain the river is going to rise, get the hell out of there.

GirlWhoWoreGlasses

The flash flooding was predicted as a possibility, but not to this degree. If only they listened to the original, less severe warning. I hope those children are found.

WifeOfSpock

It reminds me of tsunami.   Scary and no joke.

emeraldandrain

This happened to me in a canyon in Arizona one time.

Fit-Function-1410

Damn, Im speechless. Water don't mess around.

gamingzone420

ShitMyHubbyDoes

I always assumed flooding occurred after it had rained for days on end. But when I got to experience my first flash flood I realized how dangerous they really are. It had only been raining maybe ten minutes before huge tree branches and large recycling bins started *floating* down my street. 

bluelily216

Whoever filmed this has significantly more faith in our aging infrastructure than I ever will

Restaldte

yo the debris in the water makes this 10x more deadly

AgentArnold

Like an inland tsunami,. By the time that debris is on you it's too late.

MIRV888

elctronyc

doveup

26 foot rise in 45 minutes. That’s typhoon-level water displacement.

Introverted_Extrovrt

I live in fire country and flash floods are the only natural disaster I'm truly afraid of.

Kitty_gaalore1904

I can’t believe that people who don’t even live near there, are already throwing around conspiracy and blaming people. This was a surprise flood and people are still missing. 

I grew up in Arizona. Flash floods from monsoons, are no joke. It’s weather phenomenon, not conspiracy and you can’t blame one person.

Curious_Document_956

Is this another once in 1000 year weather event that is just going to happen every year now because we collectively decided not to move on something that exists. Texas is one of the worst places for climate change denial IMO. They still don’t deserve this and will still deny its cause.

Zarxon

CallClearer

red51ve

I live 5 minutes from this, it's been devastating to the community along the river. The impact came so quickly. Wrecked the down town park, some camps, some people died, businesses destroyed. Just a sad situation all around.

Select_Cucumber_4994

This makes me sick to my stomach, those poor girls. I woke up in 2007 to my house surrounded by water and I am still scared when it rains. One thing I know about Texas, if it’s raining in July get to higher ground and stay the hell away from the Guadalupe. So many balls dropped like they don’t know we have tragic levels of flooding 2-3 times in a decade now. Ahhhhh those kids! 💔

Fickle_Physics_

here is full vid of the flash flood from a bridge 

https://youtu.be/0kYjiTEDqtw?si=TLyCb8BMnFcbZXJD

Accomplished-One7476

The Guadalupe River is part of "Flash Flood Alley" and known as "the most dangerous river valley in the United States." A similar event occurred in 1987 along this river where 10 teenagers perished when their church group was caught in the rapid rising of the Guadalupe. A movie was even produced based on these events. 

A Flash Flood Watch had been issued on the afternoon of July 3 for this area, and multiple "life-threatening" Flash Flood Warnings were issued in the early morning hours of July 4. Obviously not everyone understood how quickly the water would rise and become dangerous and catastrophic. Hindsight is 20/20. Extremely sad and unfortunate situation.

JRSSR

This is in the middle of the day. Didn't this flood happen at night?

Development-Alive

When CA experienced wildfires that killed 30 people and burned down 1,800 homes Trump attacked Democrats. Trump claimed Democratic mismanagement was responsible. That Gov Newsom failed to rack the forest and was restricting water. Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold aid from CA. 

Now that the Natural disaster is in a Red State there is zero criticism and attacks. While CA was to blame for its natural disaster TX is just an innocent victim of nature. It disgusting. Trump takes every opportunity to divide the country..

8to24

I’m always going to have empathy for dead children and their families regardless of context. I’ll never be that numb.

But I absolutely direct anger and blame at the people who directly caused this through hobbling government agencies and killing regulations. Republican ideology killed those children and they should never know any peace from that.

Haunting-Ad788

Uvalde didn't change gun reform at all. As a Texan id be surprised if this does anything

Tight-String5829

1. Climate change is causing weather catastrophes that we are just simply unprepared for.

2. There is a huge difference between a flood and flash flood. Part of the nature of a flash flood is that it is unexpected.

3. Living in a flood plain doesn’t mean it’s irresponsible to live/work/play there, it just means the Federal government (RIP) has determined the risk is high enough that insurance companies must offer flood insurance.

4. (Maybe most important) if we become so callous as to see tragedy and not respond with compassion and love, than what’s the fucking point of the human race.

wxmann229

Redirect your energy to the jackass whom complained about the National Weather Service, an agency gutted recently, via DOGE, to rid us of 'waste, fraud and abuse'.

There's little that could happen to that guy that would get any sympathy from me. 

My contained response would be: 'you get what you pay for'.

No-Director-1568

well, yes, you should feel badly for these families because that is a human response to something like this. 

And also, fuck MAGAs with a cattle prod.

jehosophat44

The forecast was for 3 - 6 inches of rain. They received 10+ inches. The county lacks a warning system. The river rose 26 feet in within 45 minutes. 

I don’t think the parents failed to do their homework. The camp has been operating for something like 100 years, and its history isn’t dotted with flash flood fatalities. Instead, they, like all of us, trusted the series of systems that should keep us safe. I can’t imagine their pain.

ETA: Corrected units of measure

ElowynElif

I liked what JVL said—authoritarianism is inherently contradictory.

I’m not sure when so many Protestants just abandoned the idea that they have power to influence the world and make decisions.  

Is it a reactionary response to Catholic ideas around good works versus faith alone? Power differentials that cut layman out of the faith? Relying too much on the idea that God has a plan (and by extension you don’t have to do anything)? The rise of Christian nihilism. 

I think the greatest way to “shame” others is to turn the other cheek. Maybe there is a need for a graceful McCain moment, “No ma’am—God didn’t cause this. He needs for us to put in place the technology and infrastructure to ensure that all people, his people, are taken care of and things like this don’t happen again.”

menagerath

I did wonder if this would serve as a stove-touch moment for any of the affected TX political elite families re climate change.

But I doubt it. First the personal grief will eclipse such points, then healing will require rejecting them, and finally the data point will be trampled under the hooves of new events.

Human foibles. The signal is too noisy, the message is lost.

We aren't -doomed- exactly, but everything is going to get a lot awfuller for the foreseeable.

JackZodiac2008

Just thinking out loud about this tragedy….

If this happened in a blue run state Trump and MAGA would be placing all blame on the state and local government see California wildfires.

But because this happened in a red state I see folks on the left and right say do not politicize this tragedy.  The folks on the left say that we don’t want to turn into MAGA.  And the folks on the right show fake concern for the victims.  

Again, if this happened in NY or NJ there would be zero compassion from MAGA.  Trump would be bleating that the liberal government in that state is corrupt and awful but he will fix it.  MAGA will cheer.  The national media would be digging into everything that went wrong and assigning blame.

It’s just another example of the differences between the media environment and how it completely favors MAGA.  I don’t know how to combat this.

pollingquestion

Did everyone here get a geologist to evaluate their property before they bought? What is terrible is that the same outpouring of sympathy isn’t given to brown, black and Californians when these things happen. 

sbhikes

Also, with MAGA, it is not about personal responsibility, which is just a justification for their real motivation. It is about the right people getting the good and the wrong people getting what they deserve. That manichean worldview motivates them first and foremost. If you listen to discourse between the fires in LA and the floods in Texas, you will see this same sophistry. In Texas, MAGA will say the tragedy is the government's fault, NOAA, and no, not because if staffing cuts but the deep state. In California, it was because the liberal people and the failures of government snd yhe deep state. For them, the problem will always be liberals. I am sad for the little girls that died in Texas as I am for the deaths in Cali. Climate change had a hand in both. Yet, it is too easy to fall in the trap if us vs. them. It is a temptation that only leads to darkness.

Specialist-Range-911

Some context:

Historical major events:
	
+ 1978 Tropical Storm Amelia: Torrential rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to surge ~10 ft in just one hour—killing at least 10 people in Kerr County and surrounding areas.

+ July 1987 flood: Around 11″ of rain fell in a short period, resulting in at least 10 student deaths when a bus was swept into the river.

+ Kerr County’s hilly terrain and thin, rocky soil makes it prone to rapid runoff during heavy storms.

Policy &amp; terrain context:

+ Flash flood emergencies—official NWS alerts—have been issued multiple times this season due to intense localized downpours.

+ Kerr County authorities, including Judge Rob Kelly and Kerrville’s city manager, confirmed the county has no dedicated flood warning system, limiting their ability to notify residents rapidly. Despite KNOWN and historic flash flooding propensity. Even if it is every 20-40 years. 

+ While NWS alerts were timely on paper, dissemination—especially overnight—lagged. Some residents only first saw warnings on Facebook around 5 a.m., after water began rising.

+ Anecdotes from parents suggest staff were unaware or unprepared—no advance onsite warnings despite NWS alerts.

+ No known evacuation plan: Reports and officials confirm there was no camp-specific flood warning or evacuation procedure in place ahead of the flood.

+ Federal-level alerts came, but you can’t rely on paper alerts at 4 a.m. when people are asleep and the county lacks a real-time push system. 

+ Camp Mystic had no visible emergency plan or protocol—as far as public records show. And federal staffing constraints may have hampered coordination, even if alarms were technically issued. 

+ Camp Mystic, as a licensed youth camp, falls under the Texas Health &amp; Safety Code and Administrative Code Title 25, Chapter 265 (Youth Camps Safety)  ￼ ￼

These regulations focus heavily on:
	•	Health standards (water, sanitation, hygiene)
	•	Background checks &amp; training for staff and vols
	•	Child abuse prevention protocols

Crucially: there is NO explicit state-level requirement for natural disaster plans, such as flash flood emergency response or evacuation procedures.

In short, there was no plan. If this was an earthquake in Cali or a snow storm in NYC, none of them would be shedding a tear. 

I’m not arguing for lack of compassion. My husband and I know very good people personally on the ground looking for dead kids right now. I’m saying this to spark a difficult discussion about what kind of “personal responsibility” IS acceptable for republicans and what we’re allowed to ask of leadership that asks for money and sympathy while scoffing at common sense preparedness. 

The same conversations go into debates about seatbelts and drink driving. We just unleashed the KKK in the form of ICE to declare war on blue cities and brown folks. But when it comes to real estate development in red states among white people its hands off.

Either_Marketing896

Some claims director, in some insurance company, somewhere, is looking at this incident right now, and wondering with amazement how their underwriters approved coverage for an operation that houses dozens of 8-year-olds, in riverside cabins, in a region known as "Flash Flood Alley," and failed to have a warning system or an evacuation plan.

calvin2028

Plus if anyone wants to accuse me of being uncaring, my husband was a member of TEXSAR before we relocated back to VA.

They are in the field as we speak looking for bodies. There is so much debris in the water it’s chewing up motors. If you wish to donate, please do so. These are the best people in Texas.

https://www.texsar.org/donate/ Donate - Texas Search and Rescue

Thank you for considering a donation. These people are working for free around the clock. All money goes to gear and training.

Honestly- write this up for CNN. This is ACTUAL mismanagement. The judge who serves as the government in Kerrville basically shrugged and said, “That river floods all the time… no one knew it was supposed to rain.” I mean- that’s your fucking JOB, guy. Can you imagine the field day FOX would have had if that had been Newsom’s response? 

hallelujasuzanne

I'll add that the example of the Houston area may be instructive. (I may have some details wrong but the gist is correct). Some time ago after bad floods the city put in  building regs that established water management zones that would serve to keep the city safe, limiting and or banning residential building and providing a safe path for flood waterds Worked great til space was needed for expansion. History was ignored,  houses went in, and guess what: floods, damages, and deaths followed.

Changed location to Houston, not Dallas

rsc999

But Texas is the model for the housing crisis! They know how to eliminate regulations and red tape! They can keep cost of living affordable because of their efficient way of approaching zoning and construction! And (nobody look too closely) an abundant cheap but skilled work force!

EatingBuddha3

Journalists need to bring themselves down to his level. Speak like a loud stupid asshole with no class and proud of it. “Hey dipshit, Scott Turner with Who Gives a Shit.fuckyou, just wondering, why didn’t Texas rake its floors? Couldn’t we have just turned off the big flood faucet? What gives? Is everyone stupid there?”

Pata4AllaG

And also:
+ Kerr County maintains a Hazard Mitigation Plan (per FEMA guidelines), which addresses flood risks at a high level. 

+ City of Kerrville has ordinances governing floodplain management and flood damage prevention. 

However:
+ These codes are NOT written for camps, they target building and land use, not operational emergency procedures for minors.

+ There is NO county/city code mandating on-site emergency planning or evacuation drills for businesses or camps when minors are involved.

+ Texas law does NOT require youth camps to have flash flood plans or evacuation rehearsal procedures. 🚨
	
+ Local regulations in Kerr County and Kerrville focus on building and land safety—not operational emergency protocols.

+ Camp Mystic’s responsibilities (under state law) did not legally include preparing for or practicing a response to flash floods.

as a mom who lost their child i never want to see children die. 

i have seen on the news a flash flood warning was issued four hours prior. i do not know what happened. but i do not believe we owe them our empathy.  if this happened in a blue state maga would be celebrating and blaming.

Salt-Environment9285

&gt; I get that we’re supposed to be the better people.

I'm not sure you do.

&gt; I get that it’s unchristian to even think these things (8 guess).

I'm not sure you do. (Though I don't think Christian proscriptions are productive when dealing with e.g. intrusive thoughts – I think the better locus of attention is usually on people's actions.)

&gt; I get that it’s horrific and sad and a nightmare (I have two young kids).

Unfortunately, I don't think you do.

&gt; But I also get that this camp and all those living there, were built and operating on a KNOWN flood plain. 

There is scarcely a place in North America that does not carry some substantial amount of environmental risk. You will in the same breath condemn millions of Americans who live in floodplains, or earthquake-prone zones, or tornado-susceptible places, or wildfire-vulnerable places – and the risk for each of those is higher than it was a generation ago. And we're not even talking about permanent living conditions here, are we? This is not productive.

&gt; We are watching concentration camps set up all over the country, and I’m supposed to stop my day to pity parents that sent their kids to a Christian camp but failed to do their homework?

Yes.

&gt; Some might be poor and have few choices. Those I have empathy for. But a bunch of camp owners and parents believing “god will protect” their kids in a known hazard. I’m struggling to get there.

What evidence do you have of this? Was this something anybody said _before_ the tragedy, and not a very natural fear response _after_ the tragedy.

Someone on Substack said (paraphrasing because God forbid social media help me actually find anything I liked) that, to fight MAGA, what we need to do is win hearts and minds – starting with the heart. What you're proposing is the exact opposite.

SharkSymphony

It was a flash flood that was way beyond the 100-year event and flooded areas beyond FEMA desigated floodplains. Flooding is known to occur in Central Texas but not as often to the extent that had just occurred. Also, it's extremely difficult to predict this type of weather as rainfall - about 6" per hour from what I've read. It literally happened in an instant.

LeftoftheDial1970

"Republican Classic" had the personal responsibility aspect. It often missed large swathes of people, or didn't acknowledge the advantages some people had, or was just plain cruel to big groups of people. But at its heart, "personal responsibility" is a good thing for people to have.

MAGA has none of that. No responsibility at all, just blame and scapegoats: the government needs to save my coal job, because my grandfather bought a house with it. But a trans prisoner did this to me.

The GOP base voter doesn't even pretend to believe in "bootstraps" anymore (other than in comparison to effete "rmail jobs"), though that was always a distraction. Now they have nothing but blame and grievance: it's ALWAYS someone else's fault.

le_cygne_608

I think the answer is, we can feel bad for the innocent victims (especially the kids) caught up in this, and still be very clear about holding the people responsible to account and calling them out for it. And we should not stop doing so just because the Republicans say we're "politicizing a tragedy," because everything is inherently political. Especially when political decisions directly led to the tragedy in question.

Trick-Arachnid-9037

This basically all boils down to one thing: TEXAS CHRISTIAN ARROGANCE. Because this was a Christian camp, and all these people see themselves as so perfect and righteous, they have it in their minds that God will "protect" them from harm. Texans in general are very arrogant people, and put evnagelicals in the mix, and they just think they can do no wrong. And all of this could have been avoided had the stupid people that ran that camp just built those cabins 300 feet farther up the hill. You don't have to go FAR... that's why they call it HILL country.

Far-Flamingo585

I really like your message.  I too think it is heartbreaking but many more children will die with the Medicaid cutbacks.  I don't have medicaid, but having taught special ed, +had students that did have medicare due to their horrific medical costs. Yes, their parents worked.  I also posted to not give to GoFM yet.  Many campers are from extremely wealthy parents and can absorb the funeral cost. Wait, until you see the families that need help.  I also think it is shameful that Fish Medical fired the doctor.  How she said it was wrong but it was her personal email. Yet, it was true.  I too have issues with protecting, TPunk, Abbott, Kristi Noem.  This happened on their watch after cutting and slashing NOAA.  Abbot also failed on Uvalde school shootings.  If Texas wishes to continue voting for this group, than own up to your choices.  Texans need to take responsibility for their choices.  Texas has tons of $$ and now T gives them Fema money but not blue states?  I live in a red state and it sucks!  TPunk, Abbott, and Noem could not give a crap about the deaths.  If they thought life mattered they would not be disappearing people that ARE NOT thugs, murderers, or rapists.  TPunk lied about who would be arrested.  I don't think TPunk"s or Kristi's rhetoric about these individuals caused the flooding in TX.

a

OkTheory4425

As a native Texan living in Central Texas, I can’t say how much harder the last few days have been with people online, people who I thought were better, smarter, more empathetic people, telling me that my horrific death would have been deserved. People who would be smugly satisfied at my drowning.

I woke up today thankful that the rain had finally stopped and recovery could begin, but now I’m sad and angry and *hurt* all over again.

Every major event from the past few years has been an exercise in finding out who my real friends are (personally and politically). You are certainly not one of them.

Here is a link to verified GoFundMe campaigns supporting flood recovery efforts: [donate to flood relief fundraisers](https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/flood-relief#/)

MyDaroga

I think you’re misunderstanding a lot about this and projecting politics onto something where it doesn’t fit. It’s a normal Texas summer camp that’s been around for generations. Not to mention the RV park and homes in the area that experienced the same thing. Where did anyone say they ignored science because they believed god would protect them? Honestly, just delete this post, it kind of sucks. 

TarletonLurker

You research the open roles at the weather service offices and look into their local notification systems when you go on vacation in case there might be an *unprecedented* weather event? That “homework” is something you do? I honestly can’t say Ive ever done that so guess Im a dumb-dumb and you’re the smartest person on the planet. Congratulations on all your success.

KatersHaters

What’s your point? That these people somehow deserved this? Where is your empathy? My gracious don’t get so bitter as to let these people take your humanity from you as well.

Tdc10731

Just had to listen to someone yesterday who gets their news from TikTok yelling that the "liberals are blaming Trump (not his fault) for the flood notifications or lack thereof" and how the only folks fired from NWS were DEI hires who were unqualified for their jobs.  Unfortunately, this person only goes to their trusted sources which does not include major news organizations.  And it turns out it is TX officials that are blaming the NWS.  smh

MomToShady


4.	⁠(Maybe most important) if we become so callous as to see tragedy and not respond with compassion and love, than what’s the fucking point of the human race.

When your nation’s leader and “mourner” in chief is a sociopath, who only believes in “winners” and “losers”, it’s no wonder he hasn’t expressed any desire to help. The least “christian” President in history, supported by the “most christian” of Christians. 

Beam me up Scotty, no intelligent life (in charge) down here.

HombreSinNombre93

This is a heartbreaking tragedy. My takeaway is that a large portion of Americans hate the government, want to deregulate, revel in them losing their jobs, or, at the very least, have extreme apathy about it all. BUT when a tragedy comes to your community, it's WHERE IS THE GOVT? Why didn't anyone save us? You can't have it both ways.

checkerspot

It’s heartbreaking that this happened to innocent children. According to the NY Post the water rose 20 feet in 1.5 hours, everyone was probably asleep. I think it’s fair to say that we mourn their loss and collectively we don’t want anything like this to happen again, ever, to anyone.

https://nypost.com/2025/07/06/us-news/youngest-girls-at-camp-mystic-were-sleeping-just-feet-from-the-river-before-horror-texas-floods/

Another piece of background info: According to the Texas Tribune it cost over $4,000 per month to attend the camp in 2011, and it has been an exclusive destination for elite Christian Texans for generations. 

https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/the-not-so-happy-campers/

So, is it appropriate to question if this camps leadership took seriously the risk of flooding? I think it’s fair to ask, yes. The photos and videos show that the buildings are pretty much in a floodplain. https://www.campmystic.com/archive/2023-videos/2023-1st-term-videos/

Also, yes, the government has published numerous and thorough studies on all Texas regions:
https://www.twdb.texas.gov/flood/planning/plans/2023a/index.asp

It doesn’t seem like the organization was lacking funding at all, so changes could have been made to be better keep the campers safe. But they likely assumed nothing ever would happen. Climate change is real and unfortunately so is denialism, especially in America. 

On the government side. Different agencies put alerts out on social media. [Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said](https://www.npr.org/2025/07/05/nx-s1-5457759/texas-floods-timeline) « It is up to the local counties and mayors under the law to evacuate, if they feel a need. That information was passed along. » What is the appropriate level of intervention at each level of government ? Do you think experts should be listened to? I know Americans aren’t used to thinking this stuff through, but we need to. 

I’m a local govt official in a red state and this sounds like a nightmare scenario to me - I also don’t see any reason why it won’t continue to happen, given the sociopathic ideology that exists in our statehouses. We already have funding cuts down to the bone.  Govt is expected to study the region, predict severe weather incidents, alert people, and then knock on everyone’s door a la Paul Reverse style and get them out. They can’t do all of it, especially when the funding gets cut. Also, don’t forget, there are always folks who refuse to leave until it’s too late anyways. 

The solution is to fund our government agencies properly  - pay your taxes - listen to experts , and be politically involved - tell officials them to put in place warning systems. Do you know we have multiple local governments who spend more energy on county fairs and festivals and fun stuff instead of planning for climate change? Well they all do because they think the « people want it » and they don’t get press and pics for preventing disasters. Why is Trump planning a wrestling match at the White House? Same thing. Bread and circuses, friends.

The last thing is yes people do need to take responsibility for where and how they build. This goes back to the camp leadership. I understand why OP is frustrated - because we see so much hypocrisy year after year! (underfunding government, denying climate change exists, then building in unsafe areas and complaining that government didn’t predict/ stop the disaster from hitting, then expecting insurance and fellow citizens to pay for rebuilding in the same place again….rinse, repeat.)

Everyone has a role to play - it’s time for the adults to be adults. Our children deserve more than this!

GoldenHourTraveler

I live in Austin. These people are profoundly stupid. Everything you wrote is on the money. I am desperate to leave. Once I am gone, I will pray for Godzilla to rise from the sea and level it.

Chemical-Plankton420

It's typical republican BS, as usual. That last I heard was, "let's pray, y'all" derp. Like, really? That's the solution?! 

What should be said is: assess the problem, fix what you can now (search+rescue+recovery and empathy/support), when the dust settles figure out WTF happened and how to mitigate/prevent it from happening in the future. But that's just not how republicans work. They rush to the scene, give platitudes, "think and pray," then sweep it under the rug and say, "well, it was god's will, you know..." Problem solving is a four letter word to republicans, same as its ever been.

My big question is how badly did NOAA fuck this forecast up and why? Doge cuts? Incompetence? Climate change throwing a huge curveball? As someone who lives in Austin, on Wednesday they predicted maybe an inch of rain in a popup thunderstorm Thursday and/or Friday, a bit more out west, a bit less out east. Fast forward to Saturday night, I've gotten about 6" where I live. No problem for me but out west they got totally rocked, like 20" of rain in less than 3 days. Google LCRA Hydromet to look around at rainfall amounts at weather stations in Central Texas over the past week, it's astounding.

The second question, which gets into state and local accountability (another sore subject for republicans), how quickly were there warnings blasted out for flash flooding especially in Kerrville? We get bombarded with Amber alerts for missing kids 500 miles away from where I live or some cop getting shot at 500 miles away but they can't blast out a flash flood warning for folks in a localized area that could result in serious life and death situations? It's sad and frustrating but you can't rely on anyone but yourself to watch your back,

wrale577

I agree 💯 with everything you said.  It is extremely sad about the loss of life but unfortunately I don't think the parents of those little girls will connect the dots that cuts to the NWS due to DOGE/Trump, voting down tax increases to implement an emergency response system etc  are a huge factor in the death of their children.  Instead I fear that within the next week we will see some of these parents on the news saying this is all "God's will".  Just like the parents of the unvaccinated child who died of measles a couple of months back.  It is so sad.  Like my husband said this morning we will begin to see more &amp; more children suffer and die over the stupidity of their parents voting choice.

Few_Argument5962

I would say this is totally fair to think about in the context of the Republican Texas Government. They should never have let there be people in such a dangerous place.

spenswar17

&gt; At what point, since M*GA is all about consequences, personal responsibility and gods providence, do we get to hold them accountable for their willful disregard of science, research, government, and informed choice-making?

Right the fuck now, and always, forevermore.

Learn to swim fuckheads

itsfuckingpizzatime

Every time we have floods I’m reminded of how we continue to build in or occupy flood plains.
I live in Vermont, we’ve had our share of floods those last few years.  People get complacent because an area “hasn’t flooded since 1912” or nonsense like that.  That just proves the area is floodable, even if it’s rare!

Here’s a hint: a flat area on either side of a river is its secondary bed.  Don’t build there.  Period.  Use it to grow crops or for outbuilding but not for something occupied.

I can’t tell you how many nice houses I saw when I was house hunting that were in floodplains.  We refused to look at these.  Some of these no longer exist.

fluffysmaster

Right after it happened I imagined George Carlin:  "A Christian camp . . . so, were they praying wrong or something? Why did the Lord let that happen?  Oh, sorry --- too soon?!"

The_Observer_Effects

How should our tax dollars be spent? The early-warning sirens that other counties have could have saved many lives in Kerr County. Apparently an application for “state and federal funds” was denied.  Let’s just consider federal funds. One THAD interceptor missile used to assist you-know-who in the Middle East recently cost about 13 million dollars to build. According Ha’aretz, we used 93 of these recently, or well over a billion dollars worth. That does not include all the other tax money used to build, transport, and maintain the equipment to set up and fire them over there. I think protecting our children is more important than bombing (and sometimes protecting) children in distant countries.

mrpnbofnjusa

I was thinking about this today when I saw this headline. [https://www.npr.org/2025/07/09/nx-s1-5459871/texas-trump-fema-flooding](https://www.npr.org/2025/07/09/nx-s1-5459871/texas-trump-fema-flooding) NPR: "Texas is relying on FEMA. State leaders said it should be cut."

Someone said it below. I will never not have empathy for innocent children scared, suffering, or dying. I will never not have empathy for any human scared, suffering, or dying for that matter. But it makes me so mad, the hypocrisy of these politician and those who voted for them. They will wait a little while after this disaster, then pretend that Texas never needed FEMA, then try to take it away for other states. Then they will pretend they had nothing to do with it. And people will die. Children will die. Unhoused people will die. Poor people who cannot relocate, or don't have transportation/the means to evacuate, or adequate insurance will die or lose their homes/livelihoods.

Jolly_Telephone2954

By your logic, those of us that live in New Orleans shouldn't be allowed to live here

Ok-Recognition8655

I agree with most of this. I can see others' points about why I should care but overall, I agree with you.

ThatChiGirl773

Texas is grappling with a devastating flood disaster, with a rising death toll and significant destruction following catastrophic flooding. Authorities have emphasized urgent search efforts amidst new flood warnings.

Texas Flood Disaster

Why This Matters

Public Sentiment Summary

Highlighted Comments

Parties Involved

What the people want