MICHELLE MILLER:
00:00:00
A desperate search for more than 20 missing girls from a summer camp after deadly flash floods in central Texas. Torrential rains flooded the Guadalupe River near San Antonio. Camp Mystic is a sleepaway camp for girls along that river. State officials say, without warning, the river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes. First responders rescued more than 200 people from the catastrophic flooding. They recovered at least 24 bodies yesterday. Jason Allen is in Kerr, Texas, where search and rescue operations are underway. Jason, good morning. Good morning, Michelle. Yes, they are underway, and this is still being called an active rescue mission. This morning there have been helicopter teams and boat teams going up the Guadalupe River. They're having to sort through, work around these huge piles of debris. And they have even been scanning the treetops, looking for people who may still be waiting to be rescued. Rescues and reunifications-- more than 160 people were evacuated from the flood zone by helicopter. While some of these families have been reunited, others are desperately waiting this morning. We remain in a search-and-rescue posture right now. They will continue in the darkness of night. They will be taking place when the sun rises in the morning. They will be nonstop.
JASON ALLEN:
00:01:25
12 inches of rain fell within an hour, turning Kerr County into a catastrophic flood zone. First responders launched dozens of rescues along the swollen Guadalupe River, flooding several children's summer camps. Out of the over 700, we have the number of about 23 not accounted for.
JASON ALLEN:
00:01:43
This helicopter swooped in and rescued a young camper from the top of a tree. Photos from inside one of the camps showed children being evacuated. We will do everything humanly possible, 24/7.
JASON ALLEN:
00:01:58
Torrents of floodwater ripped away homes and cars. We do not have a warning system.
JASON ALLEN:
00:02:04
Rob Kelly is the Kerr County judge. We had no reason to believe that this was going to be anything like what's happened here, none whatsoever. This concrete pad was part of an RV park, and the owner told me they were lined up along the riverbank for the 4th of July holiday, but there was no warning for them to get out in time, and all of them washed down the river. It was raging water, not this calm. It was raging water. Lorena Guillén owns a restaurant right next to the RV park. She describes a terrifying scene as the river quickly began to flood. You could also see vehicles coming from up the river with the lights on, and you can hear somebody honking. And they were washing away. They kept going. Honking as they were washing down the river to try to get somebody's attention. Yeah, but it was impossible.
JASON ALLEN:
00:02:57
This is part of a campground here along the river. It was full of RVs and people in cabins. They were all staying here for the 4th of July holiday weekend. And so we talked about how many girls are missing from that camp up river. Dana, they don't know exactly how many other people are still missing this morning. Jason, absolutely devastating to hear those stories. And I think the entire country has its thoughts and prayers there, especially in hearing about those missing children right now. Thank you for the update.
