Rescue teams in Texas were working urgently on Sunday to find dozens of missing people, including several children, after powerful flash floods hit the state. So far, at least 78 people have died, and the death toll is expected to rise further.

Weather officials also warned that more heavy rain could hit the region soon, making the situation even more dangerous.

Trump Responds While Returning from Vacation

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, US President Donald Trump said he would “probably” visit Texas on Friday. He had been returning from a golf vacation when he addressed the media.

Trump dismissed criticism that his administration’s budget cuts to weather agencies and warning systems had impacted emergency response. He called the floods a “100-year catastrophe” and said, “nobody expected” such a disaster.

High Death Toll in Central Texas

In Kerr County, located in central Texas, Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that at least 40 adults and 28 children had died due to flooding. Another 10 people were reported dead in nearby regions.

“You will see the death toll rise today,” warned Freeman Martin, Texas’ public safety chief, during a press briefing. According to Governor Greg Abbott, 41 people were still missing in flood-hit areas across the state as of Sunday.

Questions Raised Over Delayed Warnings

As people demanded answers about why flood warnings were delayed or why evacuations didn’t happen sooner—especially in areas popular with campers—Trump shifted the blame onto President Joe Biden.

“That was not our setup,” he told reporters. When asked whether he would restore jobs and funding to the National Weather Service (NWS), Trump replied he would “not” rehire meteorologists.

Regarding FEMA, which his administration had planned to scale back, Trump said, “FEMA is something we can talk about later.” However, he did sign a major disaster declaration to release federal support for Texas, despite his past view that disaster relief should be managed at the state level.

Search for Missing Girls from Camp Mystic

A large part of the rescue mission focused on central Texas, where about 17 helicopters were deployed to search for missing people, including ten girls and a counselor from a Christian summer camp.

The campers had been staying at Camp Mystic, located along the Guadalupe River, when the floods struck.

On Friday night, while the girls were asleep, the river rose rapidly. The water reached treetops and even cabin roofs, sweeping some children away and causing widespread destruction.