Cruz Calls Deadly Texas Flooding "Every Parent’s Nightmare" Amid Evacuation Scrutiny

Sen. Ted Cruz acknowledged on Monday that officials regret not evacuating Camp Mystic earlier, where the tragic loss of 27 children and staff occurred, in the wake of the devastating flooding in Texas that has resulted in at least 95 lives lost.

During a press briefing in Kerr County, the center of the flooding and the location of the well-known girls' summer camp, Cruz expressed that the delay in taking action will weigh heavily on both responders and affected families.

“In retrospect, it’s clear that if given the chance to do it all over again, we would choose to evacuate,” Cruz stated. We would evacuate the most at-risk children—those in cabins closest to the water—and relocate them to safer, elevated areas.

Cruz, while recognizing the situation, cautioned against assigning blame politically. “I believe this is not the moment for divisive accusations and blame,” he stated. “Following our efforts in search and rescue and the subsequent rebuilding phase, we will inevitably enter a time of reflection.”

A sudden deluge in the early hours of July 4 led to devastating floods that overwhelmed emergency response teams. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice reported that responders sent out around 3:30 a.m. were quickly overwhelmed by the swiftly rising waters.

“Reaching these areas requires a significant amount of time,” Rice stated. “As first responders arrived on the scene, they too found themselves overwhelmed.” It all unfolded in an instant.

Rice emphasized that making decisions about evacuations is always a challenging process. “Delaying evacuation can endanger buses or vehicles on low-water roads,” he stated. “Making those decisions is quite challenging, as we certainly don’t want to raise false alarms.”

The toll at Camp Mystic has reached 27, adding to the state's alarming total of 95 fatalities as of Monday. Over 40 individuals are still unaccounted for across the state, with numerous people believed to have drowned in the Guadalupe River.

Cruz referred to the calamity as “every parent’s nightmare,” conveying his condolences to the families and communities still waiting for updates. “For numerous individuals, these are companions and community members who have experienced the loss of their children,” he stated. “Now is the time for Texans to unite—not to create divisions.”

Search and rescue operations are ongoing throughout the area as authorities begin to address the somber consequences and consider whether additional measures could have been taken.