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Heavy storms have dumped 6 to 15 inches of rain across Central Texas, triggering catastrophic flash flooding that has claimed at least 13 lives and left an unspecified number of children missing at a summer camp.<\/p>\n
Water levels along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County\u2019s Hill Country surged between 22 and 29 feet in just hours, far beyond normal levels, overwhelming the surrounding area.<\/p>\n
According to Reuters<\/a>, 13 fatalities have been confirmed. Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts are focused around Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls, where dozens of cabins were affected by rapidly rising water.<\/p>\n At a press conference Friday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said that 23 of the camp\u2019s 750 campers remain unaccounted for, according to ABC 7 Eyewitness News<\/a>.<\/p>\n Two camp employees explained that some cabins had flooded, and it’s possible some campers were swept away by the water.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Tragedy on Lake Kissimmee: Husband\u2019s Desperate Grasp as Alligator Swims Away with Wife<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n If you have not been personally contacted, then your daughter is accounted for,\u201d instructors said in a statement shared by CBS affiliate KEYE<\/a>. “We are working with search and rescue currently. The highway has washed away so [we] are struggling to get more help.”<\/p>\n One official emphasized the uncertainty of the situation:<\/p>\n We can\u2019t say for sure that they\u2019re all accounted for. We know that there are some missing. We know where some of them are\u2014and [they are] stranded.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Kerr County Sheriff\u2019s Office has officially declared it \u201ccatastrophic flooding.\u201d<\/p>\n Local leaders echoed that the flooding was impossible to predict.<\/p>\n “We didn\u2019t know this flood was coming,” Judge Kelly said at Friday’s press conference. “Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming. We had no reason to believe that this was going to be anything like what\u2019s happened here\u2014none whatsoever.”<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> 10 Country Songs Born From World Tragedy and Destruction<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n More rain is expected through Saturday, complicating rescue efforts and increasing the danger of additional flooding.<\/p>\n Flash floods strike fast, often with little warning. Here’s how to stay safe:<\/p>\n At least two artists on this list of country star home fires were better for it, professionally. One legend used the tragedy to inspire greatness, while a second newcomer actually wrote his first No. 1 hit about the blaze.<\/p>\n Over a dozen country stars have watched their homes go up in flames. Here are their stories.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Flash Flood Safety Tips<\/h3>\n
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Country Star Homes Devastated By Fire<\/h2>\n