COLORADO SPRINGS — Catastrophic flooding in Texas Hill Country over the Fourth of July weekend has claimed at least 80 lives, and left dozens more missing. For Colorado Springs mom Cass Cameron, the disaster hits close to home—her children and parents remain in the flood zone.
“Well, obviously I’m not sleeping tonight,” said Cameron, who had just returned from visiting family in Texas.
Cameron spent the holiday weekend at her parents’ house along the Guadalupe River, watching the water rise rapidly and debris rush downstream. Her two kids stayed behind with their grandparents due to their father having summer custody.
“They’re still with their grandparents,” she said. “When I called my dad, he was like, ‘yeah, the water is already up, but we’ve got two more banks to go,’ and I was like, ‘that’s not great, and I’m not super comfortable with that.’”
Since arriving back in Colorado Springs, Cameron’s family in Texas has already received a second flood warning. She returned home to work but remains glued to updates.
“I told my dad, if it gets up to 17 feet and it’s still going… you have to leave,” she said.
She described the terrifying experience of being near a flash flood: “It’s hard to explain how horrifying the sound is… the sound of the water, the trees breaking and hitting each other.”
During her flight back, Cameron spoke to another flood-affected traveler—a teacher from the Houston area whose student is still missing after being swept away from Camp Mystic, a popular summer camp.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick shared harrowing stories of children escaping the flood: “They climbed out the windows in bare feet and nothing but a nightgown on, in neck-high water… She said, I don’t know how we made it.”
The speed and intensity of the flooding took many by surprise. Officials predicted only “minor flooding” a day before, but water levels in the Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes—destroying homes, vehicles, and claiming lives.
Some are now questioning whether the public was given adequate warning.
In the face of the devastation, Cameron is urging Colorado Springs residents to help by donating essentials like diapers, baby formula, feminine hygiene products, pet food, non-perishables, and cleaning supplies.
“You’re going to see a lot of displaced animals,” she said. “For those ranchers that love to help, it would be great to ask if they could use trailers and maybe help with transporting.”
FOX21 reached out to the American Red Cross of Colorado, who confirmed they’re on standby but haven’t yet been requested to assist.
President Donald Trump addressed the crisis on Truth Social, announcing a major disaster declaration for Kerr County to expedite aid. “These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy with many lives lost and many still missing,” he said. “The Trump administration continues to work closely with state and local leaders.”
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