At the time when the Texas He counts his wounds from the murderous ones floods The storms, which have already claimed dozens of lives, are raising questions about whether adequate warnings were given by authorities before the severe weather that hit the state on Thursday and Friday. At the center of the criticism is the cooperation between the National Weather Service and local authorities in Kerr County.

Yesterday, in an emergency update, it was confirmed that the death toll now stands at 82, of which 28 are children, with the identification processes of the bodies continuing.

Alongside the images of utter devastation, videos of people trying to escape the torrential rain have also been released. In a video posted on the X platform (formerly Twitter), girls from the Mystic camp are seen being rescued, singing Pass It On and Amazing Grace, while crossing a bridge over the Guadalupe River.

Here are some survivors from Camp Mystic. It's ok to cry. It's a traumatizing experience. Lives were lost. 💔

Their singing and praising God has brought tears to my eyes. ❤️❤️❤️

Brave brave girls. ❤️❤️❤️

— Sassafrass84 (@Sassafrass_84) July 6, 2025

Sunday's new rainfall led authorities to issue an emergency alert for a dangerous and life-threatening situation.

Controversy over crisis management and alert systems

The lack of adequate coordination between the county and the National Weather Service has become a major point of contention. Dalton Rice, the city manager of Kerrville, one of the hardest-hit areas, told reporters: “We don’t want to speculate at this time. There will be a formal assessment, focused on how to best prepare for the future.”

When asked why no evacuation order was given before the storm, he replied that there was preparation, but unfortunately, the rain fell at the most inopportune moment and at the most critical points, where the two tributaries of the Guadalupe join.

Kerr County lacks the sirens and early warning systems that are common in areas hit by tornadoes. After the flooding, residents like Nicole Wilson are urgently calling for the installation of such a system, with a petition already circulating online. It's not a wish but a necessary investment in public safety, she told local network KXAN.

At the same time, questions are being raised about whether local authorities had approved building permits on the riverbank, bypassing Federal Disaster Management Agency (FEMA) rules that limit reconstruction in high-risk areas.

We didn't hear any warning.

At the Red Cross shelter in Kerrville, Kathy Perkins of Ingram County said she was awakened by thunder and lightning and told by two firefighters to evacuate her home immediately. She survived, although her home was damaged, but several of her neighbors saw their belongings washed away by the waters.

People are angry – and you’re waiting for the parents of the kids to come home from camp, he said. They’re not going to be able to just “cover it up.” These kids needed to be safe – and they weren’t.

She criticized the head of the local authorities, who on Friday said: We did not know that this flood was coming. We often have floods here, but this is the most dangerous river valley in the United States. According to Perkins, everyone paid attention when he said: “We did not know anything.”

Lesa Baird, 65, from Hunt, who is staying at the shelter, described:"We didn't hear any warning at all. I woke up, stepped on the floor and felt water. I took some kittens in a box, woke up my friend, who broke the window to get out. We grabbed a cable and climbed a tree. We stayed there for hours.

As the waters receded, they managed to reach the local church. She, pointing to the bruises on her hands, said: There is no more home. It is over. I may gather a few things from here and there. But this is all my possessions now.

At least 27 dead from the camp

Meanwhile, at least 27 campers and group leaders lost their lives at the Mystic camp.

"Our hearts break with the families experiencing this unimaginable tragedy. We pray for them constantly," a statement posted on the camp's website said.

The owner of the camp, Dick Eastland, was also a victim and, according to a post by his grandson on social media, was killed while trying to rescue children from the rushing waters.

The camp, which exclusively houses girls, is located on the banks of the Guadalupe River, which, during the storm in the early hours of July 4, swelled more than six meters in less than two hours.

We ask that you continue to pray, show respect, and preserve the privacy of each family affected. May the presence of the Lord embrace us all, the announcement concludes.

Kerr County authorities announced that searches continued overnight to locate 10 other girls and a gang leader who are still missing.

With information from Guardian and CNN, photos from Reuters