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Officials: At Least 51 Dead In Texas Floods; Tropical Storm Chantal Forms In the Atlantic; Crowds Gather For Funeral Of Diogo Jota And Andre Silva. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired July 06, 2025 - 02:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[02:00:25]

LINDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to all our viewers watching here in the U.S. and around the world. I'm Lynda Kinkade.

At least 51 people are confirmed dead from massive flooding in Texas. And at least 15 of those are children. Officials say 27 children are also missing from Camp Mystic, a girls summer camp in Cooke County, Texas. It's one of the areas hardest hit by the flooding.

The parents of two young girls have confirmed to CNN that their daughters have died. Thirteen-year-old Blair Harber and her 11-year- old sister, Brooke. Other campers confirmed dead include nine-year-old Janie Hunt, who you see here, nine-year-old Lila Bonner, and Sarah Marsh, as well as eight-year-old Renee Smajjstrla, seen here in this photo. Her family confirmed her death to CNN. Her uncle telling us that it is truly devastating.

Well, Camp Mystic is near the Guadalupe River in the town of Hunt, Texas. It's near Kerrville, northwest of San Antonio. Torrential rains caused the river to rise more than 20 feet in less than two hours, and the destruction in the area has been widespread. Texas Governor Greg Abbott visited Camp Mystic on Saturday. He says it is horrendously ravaged. He also says emergency crews are working nonstop to save people.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R), TEXAS: We will be relentless in going after and ensuring that we locate every single person who's been a victim of this flooding event. We're not going to stop today or tomorrow. We will stop when the job is completed between now and whenever that day arrives, when we -- when the job is completed. This is a 24/7 operation day and night because we know that we are looking for Texans and Americans and we put them as our top priority. We will find every one of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: CNN senior national correspondent Ed Lavandera has more on Camp Mystic and what happened there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LAVANDERA: Just beyond the Guadalupe River over there is Camp Mystic and these are the cabins where so many young people were swept away by the flood waters, 27 by last count, still missing. And at this point is every hour that has gone by, it becomes harder and harder to hope that these children can still be found alive.

But I have talked to a number of people who had children or were counselors at the camp, and they describe these cabins that you see here in the distance, this is where the younger children would stay.

[23:35:08]

This is kind of where you start out, and then you graduate your way up through the ranks here as you -- as you get older.

But several people tell us that as the flood waters came up in the middle of the night, the children couldn't get out this way toward us because that's where the flood waters were coming from. The water had them pinned inside that it was the young counselors. And by young -- I mean, these are just 18, 19-year-olds who were inside the cabin with those children unable to get out, get away.

Several people tell us that a lot of those counselors were breaking windows in the back of those buildings, and then pulling kids through the windows and in their pajamas, making their way up through the hillside there to get to higher ground and to safety.

That is some of the heroic work that these young people managed to do to help save as many lives as possible. There were some 750 kids at this camp, and you can see how extensive the damage is. First of all, just look at the ferociousness that these flood waters came through, uprooting massive trees and just decimating the river -- the riverbed here is everything was rushing downstream.

When you look at the campground here, you can see the recreation hall is still standing for the most part, but part of the wall there ripped apart. You know, all of this was under water. And that is the one thing that has been really hard to kind of describe in all of this is just the amount of water that these floods brought, where we're standing was underwater at some point, and consider how high above the river we are at this point gives you a sense that all of this was barreling downstream. People were just simply unable to get out of the way as these flood waters went up as fast as they did.

[02:05:01]

And that is why this situation has been so extremely deadly.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, near Camp Mystic, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: I want to welcome Cary Burgess, a meteorologist based in Kerrville, Texas, who joins us now from Fredericksburg, Texas.

Thanks so much for your time. And I'm so sorry for what's happening there to your community.

CARY BURGESS, BROADCAST METEOROLOGIST: It is definitely been a tragic weekend. It was supposed to be festive, obviously. July 4th, Fourth of July celebrations along the river were planned, and music festivals and such. Even right there in downtown Kerrville. And this whole weekend just changed during the overnight hours, Thursday night into Friday morning.

It has been a really difficult time here in the Texas Hill Country and the loss of life is staggering. I've grew up here and I've been to that river so many times I've lost some friends and acquaintances this weekend that that I've known for a while. And it's just really been difficult.

And as a meteorologist, it's hard because you always want to do your best to prepare people and keep people safe. But the Guadalupe River has flooded in years past, even higher stages than what we saw (AUDIO GAP) lose their life in a -- in a flood similar to this downstream. That time near Comfort, Texas, which is east of Kerrville.

This time it was Camp Mystic. It was a little bit different this time because we had rain in several different locations and a lot of people think of the Guadalupe River as just one river. But in Kerr County, especially west of Kerrville, it splits into two forks. Theres a north fork, and there's a south fork. And they came together right at Hunt, Texas. And that's where Camp Mystic is located.

And it just seems like we had two walls of water coming from two different directions that merged right there at Hunt. And that is where we've seen most of the devastation. Most of the tragic circumstances there. And that was unlike some of our previous flood events.

But this has been going on. This is about probably our fifth or sixth flood of this magnitude since we're going back 100 years now. But, 1932, we had one that looked very similar to this.

So, it's not uncommon. It's I won't say it's common, but it's very -- that river has had a history, even though it's very beautiful river and tranquil most of the time of becoming a beast in the overnight hours, especially like this event was.

KINKADE: So, I have to ask you, Cary, given that flash floods are not uncommon and so many residents have said they had little to no warning. From your perspective, why was this event so hard to forecast or communicate in time?

BURGESS: There may have been a several factors here. It's hard to say. The watch came out a day before, and a watch is usually when people just like a hurricane or tornado watch or any other type of weather watch. The hope is that people will be on the lookout, or at least be thinking about the possibility that something could happen.

We have numerous flood watches in this area throughout the years, and several times a year we get a flood watch here. Getting a flood of this magnitude is on the high end. And tropical system involved like this one. This was Tropical Storm Barry.

It can rain 10 to 15in in a short amount of time like it did. But the hardest part of the forecast is knowing and determining exactly where that will happen. Now people went to bed Thursday night, 9:10 p.m., and it wasn't raining. Not yet.

So this all happened mostly after midnight and up to 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning. But the watch was issued ahead of time. It's just that we weren't seeing any rain developing. It exploded after midnight while people were sleeping, and I think the hardest part there is, maybe people didn't expect it to be that torrential.

And perhaps it's hard in West Kerr County to get communications out there. It's more rural. It's also a -- it's very difficult to get to. Theres only two roads out that direction in the entire county. So -- and if the floods occur on both forks of the rivers, you're trapped. And I think that is what happened here.

It's just unfortunate that it occurred. And maybe in the future, there will be a better way to communicate to those camps out west that are separated from Kerrville and separated a little bit from the rest of the county, because it's a completely different terrain in the western Kerr County area, as opposed to areas just east of Kerrville.

[02:10:09]

KINKADE: We having a couple of communication difficulties, but I just want to ask you one final question about these flood waves that that we've heard of that can mean that this river can travel anywhere from 25 to 40 miles an hour, which is, you know, up to 65 kilometers an hour.

Can you explain for us? Can you help us visualize what that would have been like?

BURGESS: Well, imagine what it's like if you're in a swimming pool and you decide you want to run. And that's -- that water is not moving, how hard is that? Water is very dense and heavy.

The river itself is generally maybe a foot or two deep in parts of western Kerr County. But if it rains 10 to 15 inches, the surface below the water base itself is actually limestone and not mud or dirt. So, it acts like concrete or a street.

So, when the rains at that level, 3 to 5 inches per hour, like we saw it, it produces a wall of water and it will move, as you said, up to 40 miles per hour. So, you're talking about 2 trillion gallons of water produced by this particular event. When you look at the water equivalent, how much force and how much water was produced by this torrential rainfall and a flood wave like that, you only have minutes to react.

So, in this case, it's very much like a tornado. You probably don't have more than 10 or 15 minutes to prepare for that.

KINKADE: Yeah. Absolutely frightening. Kerry Burgess, we appreciate your time. We're so sorry for your loss

as well. Thank you so much.

BURGESS: Thank you.

KINKADE: Well, our breaking news coverage continues in just a moment. When we come back, how a birthday getaway at that river nearly turned into tragedy for one group of friends and family. Plus, we'll be speaking to a senior officer with the salvation army in Kerrville, Texas, to better understand the situation there.

Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:16:00]

KINKADE: We're following breaking news in central Texas, where communities devastated by catastrophic flooding are bracing for the possibility of even more rain. At least 51 people have died, including 15 children. Officials say there are still more than two dozen children missing from Camp Mystic, a girls summer camp in Kerr County.

The Kerrville city manager says search and rescue operations remain the top priority. He says crews will continue to work throughout the night to try and find any survivors.

Well, joining me now to discuss all of this is Major Phil Swyers with the Salvation Army of Kerrville, Texas.

We appreciate your time.

MAJOR PHIL SWYERS, SENIOR KROC CENTER OFFICER, THE SALVATION ARMY KERRVILLE: Thank you very much for allowing me to be here.

KINKADE: So as these search and rescue efforts continue, many families are returning to find they no longer have a home or even basic essentials like clean clothes or a hot meal. Just explain what the Salvation Army is doing right now on the ground to support those impacted.

SWYERS: Sure, the Salvation Army in Kerr County in the past has gone to other areas of Texas, even as far away as Florida, to respond to natural disasters as they occur. So for us to actually have one in our county, you know, is really a different experience for us, especially as tragic as this one.

We as a -- as we're doing our service, we actually have two employees whose house got swept away and just barely made it out. And so, we are not only serving others, but we're also taking care of our own, and it's really personal for us as well as knowing people who have lost their lives and, you know, it's a lot different when you go to serve and to help other communities. It -- you know, it is a different experience when you know people who have been affected and have lost everything. So, for us, it really just puts it in perspective. You know, this,

this community is -- it's in shock. You know, we're still hearing higher and higher numbers every day as the updates come.

And, you know, certainly no one was expecting, you know, 23 feet to come so quickly. You know, we were preparing for the Fourth of July weekend and the wonderful fireworks shows that take place in the park that's located in Kerrville. And it happened overnight. And so, it just -- people were sleeping.

And, you know, I've spoken to folks who just you could, you know, heard screaming just because they were awakened as their -- their house was moving. And so, you know, it's a lot of work, but at the same time, you know, I'm blessed I have a home to go home to tonight and, and other people don't.

And so, while it is tragic, I've also seen the greatness of Kerrville. I mean, we have over a thousand first responders that have come. We have locations that have brought us food and water and other things for us to serve. We currently, as it's shifted and where things have opened up, our operation has moved in several parts of the county.

And then today in hunt, as that area is opened up, we have locations that are serving first responders. We also have places where as people who have just lost everything are coming to us for a for a help, and were providing that to them.

As you may know, the salvation army provides spiritual emotional care, but we also have the ability through our normal social services, to set up an operation where, you know, we can help people with the rent and the utilities and clothing, and we have shower units coming, as well as washers and dryers, so that they can have a place where they can do their laundry, but it's --

[02:20:09]

KINKADE: Yeah. I mean, this is, as you say, it hits especially hard when its happened essentially in your backyard where you live. And obviously, it's taking an emotional toll and you help people with that emotional and help and spiritual support.

Just in terms of the emotional toll on survivors, you know, how are you helping them cope in these early days?

SWYERS: Today, you know, for me, was someone that escaped out of their house, but their pet, their cat, that meant everything to him didn't make it. And, you know, you know, certainly we are grateful, you know, for yet another day of life for him to experience.

But, you know, the loss that he felt when you know, this, this pet that he's cared for so long and meant so much to him, you know, is now gone and is not replaceable, you know, were thankful for his life, but just, you know, being able to sit and share through this tragedy, you know, and, and just you have you have people who they're -- they don't even know, you know, because their kids are missing, you know, where that's going to lead. And, certainly, we are praying for the best. And I know, you know,

this isn't going to end until everyone is found. And so, you know, we just are we are -- we're praying and hoping. But yet, you know, as tough as this is, you know, we know that gods in control. And he's got us in the palm of his hand. And great people are stepping up to help us to serve people in this community.

KINKADE: Yeah. And it is good to see that united response. But in terms of, you know, the families who have lost their homes, can you tell us about the shelters that have been set up? How many people are you currently helping and what sort of coordination are you seeing from local authorities and government agencies?

SWYERS: We're a partner with the county. They've placed us over a void, which is, you know, sort of the coordination of the volunteer groups that are that are coming to our community so that we can, you know, have a single point of reference and be able to meet those needs as the county makes us aware.

And then in the long term -- you know, you know, the houses are gone. So, you know, we're looking towards rebuilding and then rent and utilities, people escape with just the clothes on their back. So, you know, we've opened up, you know, our stores and to allow people just to have things that they can wear tomorrow. And it comes from generous people who make that possible.

And, you know, it's -- you know, for us, it's just a wonderful ministry to see so many people come together in a time so tragic just trying to make someone who's gone through the unspeakable have such a better day. And while it's tragic and while it's personal for us with, you know, our own employees who have lost everything, it just gives you confidence and hope and, and the people that have come together to make this bearable.

KINKADE: Yeah. And you -- and your colleagues are offering so much support and care for those around you. How are you coping? How are you and your colleagues handling this, given it's so personal for you?

SWYERS: It's long days, you know? But like I said, I have a home to go home to, you know, so that can, you know, in comparison, you know, it helps to, you know, make sure that you can do all that you can do for those that don't. And, you know, it's one of those things where, you know, when we have people who are coming alongside us to do that, trying just to make a difference and make tomorrow better for someone who's lost so much, you know, it's -- it is personal because it is home. But at the same time, there's just -- there's just so much good that is coming out of this in our county.

KINKADE: Yeah. Well, we're all behind you. And we are thinking of you all and hope you hang in there and appreciate all the work you're doing. Thanks so much. Major Phil Swyers, appreciate it.

SWYERS: God bless you.

KINKADE: You, too. And of course, if you'd like to help those affected by this tragic flooding in Texas, you can go to CNN.com. There you can find resources for donations and you'll be connected to charities that are on the ground in Texas. You can find that at CNN Impact Your World.

[02:25:06]

President Trump says the White House is working with Texas officials to get more help to the flooded area. Ahead, we're going to have a closer look at what he's saying and his plans to eliminate the federal emergency management agency.

Plus, a look at the future of the U.S. disaster response. We're going to hear why climate scientists are increasingly concerned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: Now, I want to go back to our breaking news out of central Texas, where at least 51 people have been killed due to catastrophic flash flooding. Search and rescue missions are ongoing, and dozens of people are still missing, including 27 children from a private girls summer camp in Kerrville, Texas.

The camp is located along the Guadalupe River, which rose more than 20 feet in less than two hours on Friday. The Kerrville city manager says they have been evacuating hundreds of people from other campsites along that river.

Texas Congressman Chip Roy is praising those who've helped people escape the danger.

(BEGN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CHIP ROY (R-TX): Where we are right now, in terms of what we've done to be able to protect people, move them, get them out of the camps and the heroic efforts of people that worked in those camps. Directors of the camps, people who own the camps, who not just risked their lives, gave their lives to try to save the lives of those kids. That's who they are as Texans.

And I'm so proud of that. And I'm so proud of the work that everyone has done to do that. And now we've just got to finish the job and be with the people and importantly, pray for the families who have lost their loved ones.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: With the rescue efforts still underway, local officials are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast over Texas.

[02:30:04]

Meteorologist Chris Warren has been tracking the storm system and brings us the latest on what to expect in the coming days.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS WARREN, METEOROLOGIST: This whole disaster unfolding in a matter of hours during the overnight Friday into Friday morning. So Thursday night into Friday morning with areas receiving more than a foot of rain. But widespread over several counties in this orange and red color here, which is 4 to 6, even 6 to 10 inches of rain.

This is how it played out on radar from overnight Friday to 5:30 in the morning. Here's Kerrville and Kerr County right here getting so much rain it just continued throughout the mid-morning and into the early afternoon. So, several hours of nonstop and occasionally intense rain leading to serious fast flooding here along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville.

Most of the week, the water level was under a foot, 0.7, and then in a matter of hours, it goes up a little bit to three feet and then jumps to two stories high, or about 23.4 feet. So it's about two stories high, just so quickly.

That's something you just do not see very often at all. It's hard to imagine that happening. That wave of water.

Meanwhile, flash flood warnings were being issued between midnight and noon 24. More than 24, more than two dozen issued by the National Weather Service. Highest level flash flood emergencies. And that was some through here near Kerrville as well.

Here's the high resolution future radar through time. More rain is expected some overnight, but really going to pick up tomorrow morning into the afternoon and evening hours. Not seeing some of the heaviest storms right over Kerr County. However, with the high-resolution future radar, you have to give a little bit of wiggle room here. It could drift a little bit farther to the south. So, just a big heads up there for the search efforts ongoing there as well.

So, the forecast rainfall, the amount that were expecting generally about 2 to 4 inches in the highest amounts, nothing compared to what we saw the past couple of days.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Our thanks to Chris.

Well, CNN senior White House reporter Betsy Klein has more on the federal response to the disaster.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, local officials are expecting that this is going to be a marathon of search and rescue and search and recovery efforts, and it is going to take the close coordination of state, local and federal governments together to get that done.

So, here's what we know so far about the federal response. The U.S. Coast Guard is helping with those rescues. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem says that she has requested additional fixed wing aircraft with thermal imaging. That is something that is going to help in the overnight hours as it gets dark and they continue to search and rescue.

Separately, FEMA is engaged, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Noem says that Border Patrol agents are stepping up. They've been tapped in with certain expertise and skills that they can use to help in this situation.

But so far, state and local officials say that they are getting what they need from the federal government. Texas Governor Greg Abbott says that he has submitted a federal disaster declaration request to the White House. It is awaiting President Trump's signature at this time.

But President Trump has spoken with Secretary Noem several times today. Noem was expected to visit Camp Mystic, where dozens of girls remain missing. But we still don't know the extent of the federal resources that are going to be needed here, whether Congress is going to have to step up with additional aid.

But there are two other things to keep track of as we continue to track the federal response here. Number one is that President Trump has been sharply critical of FEMA and says he plans to phase out that agency by the end of the next hurricane season. That is something we'll be watching closely for how the federal government coordinates with the state of Texas here.

And separately, the president's fiscal year 2026 budget has steep cuts to some of these weather research labs that are vital to improving forecasts. These are the tools that can help detect these types of storms better. They are currently experiencing cuts.

DOGE also has cut hundreds of staffers at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as the National Weather Service.

But Secretary Noem was really pressed on some of the alerts at the National Weather Service. Here's how she defended the Trump administration:

KRISTI NOEM, DHS SECRETARY: That is something and one of the reasons that when President Trump took office that he said he wanted to fix and is currently upgrading the technology. And the National Weather Service has indicated that with that and NOAA, that we needed to renew this ancient system that has been left in place with the federal government for many, many years. But I do carry your concerns back to the federal government, to President Trump, and we will do all we can to fix those kinds of things that that may have felt like a failure to you.

[02:35:07]

KLEIN: Of course, this storm was truly unpredictable. The water rose so fast. It was really unprecedented.

We also have a little bit of good news, and that is that Congressman August Pfluger, who represents Texas Hill Country in Congress, says that he and his wife have been reunited with two of their daughters who were campers at Camp Mystic. He said, "Please join us as we pray for miracles."

Betsy Klein, CNN, traveling with the president in New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Well, earlier, CNN's Erica Hill spoke with retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore about the crisis in Texas. He led a special joint task force with FEMA in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and explained what went what may have gone wrong in this disaster and the preparation and response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GENERAL RUSSEL L. HONORE, U.S. ARMY (RET.): From what I've seen on television, Texas ought to be commended for their response, but they're going to have a lot of questions to answer on why we had a flood watch the night before and why actions weren't taken to move people out, or to provide souring warnings. And then who's responsible in those camps for the evacuation when we are looking at a flood watch before dark, the night before?

My hats off to those magnificent pilots and those on the ground who've gone in and rescued so many over 800 people already, and they've done it in a very extreme situation. But the weather was the issue. But, you know, Erica, Texas is going to have to stand up to this. The same thing happened in 1987 on July 16th, along the same river. And Kerr, and there was a flood. Ten people died in this exact same scenario.

So, Texas is going to have to fix this. People in Texas love to go out and camp. People have been going there for decades, but they're going to have to fix this up because this is a repeat. The same thing happened in 1987 along the Guadalupe River.

My recommendation to governor, you need to get 2,000 or 3,000 people walking those banks, not just 500. A task force one is good. They can only do so many hours a day. And it's about 80 people in there.

You got about 15,000 troops at Fort Hood. You got 21,000 troops in the Texas National Guard. You need to get some more boots on the ground and walk that ground, because and get more helicopters up. That would be my recommendation to the governor.

They can do more, but they need to do it now. They got maybe another 24 hours, but they need to get more boots on the ground. This is a tough weekend. This Fourth of July weekend without warning, without having mobilization orders.

But I think they need to mobilize some more army helicopters to get in there to assist them. Now, Texas has some of the most capable search and rescue in the Air National Guard. Those helicopters, that's what they're designed for search and rescue. And those helicopters have done a magnificent job. But you're going to need more of them to cycle them in, and you're

going to need more boots on the ground would be my recommendation, Erica. And we need to look again at the AT&T FirstNet communication system, which was bought during the last administration, Trump administration.

And it's never worked that way through a storm. It fails in Ida and it fails in every storm. We need to go back and look at that system, on why the first responders had trouble talking. That's why we bought FirstNet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: As we heard, General Honore has been addressing the critical role of search and rescue in disasters like Texas. One crucial part in the disaster response is normally steered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA.

However, President Trump has said he wants to dismantle FEMA after the coming hurricane season and instead let states take the lead with disaster response.

But some officials in the U.S. say they're already -- they already can't get a response on what the current funding is at FEMA.

A short time ago, I spoke with Kristina Dahl. She's the vice president for science at Climate Central, and I asked her to explain how early warning systems could fail in such a catastrophic way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KRISTINA DAHL, VICE PRESIDENT FOR SCIENCE AT CLIMATE CENTRAL: First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt sympathy with everyone who's suffering through this tragedy right now. It's unprecedented and unbelievable.

We do know that as our climate warms, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, which makes it more likely to experience extreme rains like this that are occurring in these short periods of time. So, we have a National Weather Service office that covers every part of the country that issued in this case, a general warning to the region that there was the risk of flash flood.

Now, over the course of about 12 hours, they issued subsequent warnings pinpointing the dangers more specifically, geographically and really highlighting the danger of the situation.

[02:40:06]

But those warnings largely happened at night because the disaster was unfolding at night. And it's clear that those many, many people did not see those warnings, did not have any chance to respond to them to get to safety before the waters rose, because they were rising so, so quickly. And so obviously, there's a need to investigate what happened and where that communications breakdown happened. But to be clear, the National Weather Service did its job in warning

first to a large area to say there is flood risk in this area. And then over time, as the risk became clearer and clearer, they kind of refined those warnings and issued updates.

But obviously, the loss of life here really indicates how unprepared we are as a nation for disasters of this scale, let alone the scale of disasters that's to come with continued warming of our planet.

KINKADE: Yeah. I want to ask you more about that, because this event in particular has been described as a 1-in-100-year flood. Yet extreme weather events are happening with increased frequency. How is climate change, particularly the warmer air holding more moisture, as you mentioned, shaping the intensity and the frequency of flash floods in Texas and across the U.S.

DAHL: Yeah, well, in this part of Texas since 1970, we've seen about a 20 percent increase in the amount of rain falling in the heaviest events. And so that's mirroring a trend that were seeing across the U.S. and in many parts of the world in which our warming climate is leading to more rain falling in these extreme events.

And so, that increases the risk of flash flooding like this in many, many parts of the world. And in this case, too, we also know that a lot of the moisture for the storm was coming from the Gulf of Mexico, where sea surface temperatures are running above normal by a couple of degrees. And so that is causing this very warm, wet system of air that enables a devastating amount of rain to fall in central Texas.

KINKADE: And, of course, this year, as you know, both the National Weather Service and FEMA faced major staffing and funding cuts. Some reports suggesting up to 20 percent. How might these reductions have affected the response to this disaster, or at least the ability to prepare for it?

DAHL: Yeah, I think it's too early to say. We do know that the National Weather Service issued multiple warnings about flood risk, and so clearly, they were getting messages out. They do have a vacancy right now in a critical position called the warning coordination meteorologist. And so it could be that that vacancy had, you know, connections to local authorities who could have helped to raise the early warnings for residents.

But generally, weather forecast office for the National Weather Service has someone on staff 24 hours watching the radar to see what is happening in terms of precipitation, rainfall, other threats. And there are National Weather Service offices throughout the country that, because of staffing cuts, are no longer staffing their offices 24 hours a day.

And so, we need these critical people to be keeping us safe 24 hours a day in every one of these offices across the country. And the second piece of this is that staffing cuts at NOAA or the national oceanic and atmospheric administration more broadly, are threatening the future ability to forecast events better, forecasting a storm like this one. Where exactly is the heaviest rain going to fall? How is it going to translate from rain into flooding?

These are extremely challenging problems, scientifically, and it's the research of NOAA that enables us to improve our forecasts year over year so that we can more accurately pinpoint the warnings that need to go out to the public.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Well, still to come, we hear from some Texas locals who describe the terrifying moments leading up to them having to evacuate. We'll have that and much more, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:47:28]

KINKADE: Welcome back.

A search and rescue operations continue in Texas. People in the area are trying to come to terms with what happened.

Reporter Courtney Friedman from CNN affiliate KSAT spoke to people who had to evacuate as the raging waters came too close.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COURTNEY FRIEDMAN, KSAT REPORTER (voice-over): A terrifying 5 a.m. wake-up call for Jonathan Meyer (ph) and his daughter Isla (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The upper headwaters and were rising. City officials did a great job of letting people know along the river what was coming down the lines.

FRIEDMAN: Their house is directly across the street from the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, and they said the water made it up three of their front steps.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was definitely shocking to see it get that high.

FRIEDMAN: As for Isla, she was at Vista Camp in Hunt two weeks ago but never expected to see remnants of that camp 20 miles down the river where she lives.

One of your canoes, it said your camps name on that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, it said our -- like our tribe, we have like a tribe. And it showed our shoes.

FRIEDMAN: It was just one of many things they've seen in the river.

And we're getting a view of how fast that water was moving, taking out massive trees, ripping the bark off and not even just breaking them in half, but bending over. You can see how fast the water is moving now. It must have been moving so much faster before. And this is how high up it was, up to this tree broke this tree

trapped, this inner tube and left debris like a camping chair and a hat behind.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wanted to cry when we drove over the bridge. I was like, this is horrible. So bad. Weve never seen it this bad before. Weve had flooding. Not to this extent. It's a catastrophe.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we've heard that this is worse than the flood, and I think 87 or so. This is worse than that one.

FRIEDMAN: Jared and Hannah Johnson were supposed to host a July 4th party, but their house had flooding. Still, they're grateful to have their lives. They and Meyers both have the same thing in mind, helping however they can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Helps going to be needed in the coming days, you know, on the cleanup and picking up and recovery of things. So, you know --

FRIEDMAN: So, you'll be ready for that part.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're ready for that. And anybody that wants to come and help and volunteer their time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Well, still to come, we'll bring you the latest on the tragedy in Texas. Dozens killed by flash floods, dozens more missing and rescue operations underway right now.

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[02:53:38]

KINKADE: Welcome back.

Search and rescue operations continue for those still missing after flash flooding devastated parts of central Texas. In Cook County, at least four months' worth of rain fell in just a matter of hours, causing the Guadalupe River to swell more than 20 feet high.

At least 51 people have been killed, including 15 children. Officials say dozens more are missing, including 27 girls from a summer camp in Kerrville. Texas officials say they will not give up until they locate every missing person.

And now, the weather situation here in the U.S., we are currently tracking Tropical Storm Chantal, which is picking up speed as it heads towards South Carolina. Strong winds are expected from now and into the morning along parts of both the South and North Carolina coastlines. It will make for a soggy remaining of the holiday weekend.

Flash flooding could occur in some areas. Beaches can also expect dangerous surf conditions and rip currents. Rain is expected to spread to the mid-Atlantic into the early part of the week. Chantal is the third named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

Well, the funeral for Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva was held in Portugal Saturday. Both athletes were killed in a car accident on Thursday after the Lamborghini they were driving veered off the road.

[02:55:05]

As crowds gathered to witness the ceremony, CNN Portugal correspondent Nuno Sousa Moreira describes what was a somber atmosphere at the brothers' hometown.

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NUNO SOUSA MOREIRA, CNN PORTUGAL CORRESPONDENT: For nearly two hours, people from all over the globe gathered here in the small city of Gondomar in the north of Portugal, to pay this last tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. This church behind me was unable to receive all the crowds, 300 people have remained outside the church when the funeral was going on, in spite of the hot weather with 30 degrees Celsius temperatures.

All these people remained united in grief and sorrow. We are talking about some of the residents of this city where both brothers grew up, and where they will now rest in peace in the cemetery right next to this church. For the memory will remain some of the most symbolic images from this day, like the moment when the Liverpool captain and Diogo's teammate Virgil Van Dijk and Andrew Robertson arrived with two flower arrangements in their hands with the shape and the numbers of both brothers' soccer jerseys.

Other soccer stars and big personalities joined this funeral. Darwin Nunez, also from Liverpool, Diogo Dalot from Manchester United, Bernardo Silva from Manchester City and Pedro Goncalves, former teammate from Wolverhampton and such many others.

Also, Roberto Martinez, the Portugal national team head coach, was here. Also the former coach Fernando Santos, to pay this final tribute to the brothers. From now on, the grief and sorrow will remain, such as the legacy and the example of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.

Nuno Sousa Moreira, reporting from Portugal, to CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Well, thanks for joining us for this edition of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Lynda Kinkade. I'll be right back with much more breaking news coverage in just a moment.

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