Texas flooding latest: 21 children among more than 60 dead while desperate searches continue

Texas officials are questioning the actions of the National Weather Service leading up to Friday’s deadly floods, as fellow meteorologists defend the agency.

Some state and local officials say the NWS didn’t provide accurate forecasts ahead of Friday’s destructive flooding, months after President Donald Trump’s administration gutted the agency and experts warned forecasts could suffer.

The National Weather Service offices in San Angelo and San Antonio, which cover the areas hit by devastating flash floods over the weekend, were facing staffing shortages ahead of the storms that caused the tragic floods.

The San Angelo office did not have a senior hydrologist, staff forecaster, or meteorologist in charge, Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the union that represents Weather Service workers, told the New York Times

The San Antonio office was missing a warning coordination meteorologist and science officers – positions that typically coordinate with local emergency management to plan for floods.

While some of those positions may have been vacant already, the warning coordination meteorologist had taken an early retirement package offered by the Trump administration.

The weather offices issued flash flood warnings to residents in the area on Thursday evening, but it’s unclear what actions people took to evacuate or notify people to get to higher ground.

At least 67 people have died in Central Texas due to the devastating floods over the weekend, with a majority of those deaths occurring in Kerr County.

At least 59 people have died in Kerr County.

Four people were confirmed dead in Travis County.

Three people died in Burnet County.

One person was reported dead in Kendall County.

Rescuers are still searching for 11 campers and one counselor who are missing from Camp Mystic, the all-girls camp located near the Guadalupe River.

Of the 59 people who have died in the floods, 21 of them are children, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said on Sunday.

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, Texas, which endured tragic flooding over the weekend and losses of life.

“I just signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need,” Trump said.

“These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing.”

Despite railing against the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides federal resources to state and local officials, Trump is using his power to activate FEMA.

When a major disaster declaration is made, states can access federal funding and resources to help with cleanup, rebuilding efforts, and assistance to those affected.

Pope Leo XIV gave condolences to families who have lost loved ones in the devastating Texas floods on Sunday, speaking in English from the Vatican.

“I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were at summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas,” Pope Leo said.

At least 59 people have died as a result of the devastating floods that ravaged Central Texas over the weekend, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said.

That death toll is expected to rise.