'No warning, none whatsoever' Survivors question safety planning and response

As Texas organizes its response to the flash floods that have already killed dozens, questions are now being posed about warnings that were given on Thursday and early on Friday about the severity of the approaching storm and the coordination between local officials and the National Weather Service.

- Edward Helmore

New flood alerts were issued for Texas "hill country" on Sunday, prompting rescue services to suspend the search for missing people, including at least 11 from Camp Mystic, the summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River hit hard by Friday's flash flood.

At an early evening press briefing, Kerr county authorities said they were suspending the search and evacuating first responders from the river valley. They confirmed that 68 had died there, including 28 children. Not all have been identified, with officials still examining the bodies of 18 adults and 10 children.

Extraordinary tales of resilience have also emerged alongside videos of the destruction and loss that are circulating on social media.

On Sunday, a video was posted on X of girls from Camp Mystic being evacuated from the camp and singing hymns as they crossed a bridge over the still torrential Guadalupe River.

The new round of rainfall prompted an alert of a "dangerous and life-threatening situation" with the warning: "Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order."

The coordination between Kerr county officials and the National Weather Service has become a flashpoint of its own. Dalton Rice, the city manager of Kerrville, one of the hardest-hit areas, told reporters on Sunday afternoon: "We don't want to speculate at this time. There will be a formal review that will focus on future preparedness."