Death toll from Texas flooding over July 4 weekend surpasses 100

The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas over the July 4 weekend rose to more than 100 on Monday, as search crews continued navigating swollen rivers and debris in search of the missing.

Authorities confirmed 104 deaths, including 28 children, and warned that the toll is expected to rise, with more rain forecast for the already saturated region.

Operators of Camp Mystic, a century-old all-girls Christian summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, announced that they lost 27 campers and counselors to the floodwaters. Kerr County officials said 10 campers and one counselor have still not been found.

Searchers have recovered the bodies of 84 people in the county, which is home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, officials said.

Authorities noted that questions about evacuation protocols and warning systems will be addressed after search and rescue efforts are complete.

Calls to investigate why warnings went unheard

Authorities vowed that one of the next steps would be investigating whether sufficient warnings were issued – and why some camps in the flood-prone region known as "Flash Flood Alley" failed to evacuate.

That will include a review of how weather warnings were sent and received. One of the challenges, according to Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, is that many camps and cabins are located in areas with poor cellphone service.

"We definitely want to dive in and look at all those things," he said. "We're looking forward to doing that once we can get the search and rescue complete."

The National Weather Service first advised of potential flooding on Thursday, then issued a series of flash flood warnings in the early hours of Friday, followed by flash flood emergencies – a rare step that alerts the public to imminent danger.

Authorities and elected officials have said they did not expect such an intense downpour – the equivalent of several months' worth of rain. Some residents said they never received any warnings.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, said Sunday that he plans to visit the state on Friday. He dismissed criticism that past budget cuts to national weather services contributed to the disaster.

"I would just say this is a 100-year catastrophe, and it's just so horrible to watch," Trump told reporters as he left his New Jersey golf club after the weekend. "This was a thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it. Nobody saw it."

Asked whether the federal government needs to rehire meteorologists who left during earlier staffing and budget cuts after his return to the White House, the president suggested it was not necessary.

(With input from agencies)