Gallego, First Responders React to Devastating Texas Flash Floods

Arizona Senator Rubén Gallego and local first responders are keeping a close eye on the disaster, which has claimed at least 81 lives since Friday, as destructive flash floods continue to create damage throughout central Texas.

"Heartbreaking scenes coming out of Texas," Gallego stated Monday. "My heart goes out to all the families impacted by these deadly flash floods, those still waiting for word on their loved ones, and our heroic first responders. The entire country is holding Texas close."

The death toll includes at least 27 children and counselors from Camp Mystic, a beloved all-girls Christian summer camp, according to a statement released by the camp Monday. The tragedy has prompted a frantic search effort now entering its fourth day.

"Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy," Camp Mystic said in a statement on its website. "We are praying for them constantly."

It remains unclear how many of the 27 camp fatalities were children versus counselors. Local authorities in Kerr County, where the worst flooding occurred, reported Sunday that 10 children and one counselor were still missing, though it's uncertain if that number has changed.

Captain Bobby Dubnow with Phoenix Fire Department, who has previous deployment experience in Texas for hurricane and flood rescues, offered insight into the challenging conditions facing rescue teams.

"It's absolutely tragic to see what's going on there," said Dubnow, who serves on Phoenix's Special Operations team. "They're not able to really get ahead of anything because it's still raining, and they're still experiencing flash flooding and they obviously have to protect themselves and keep themselves safe."

Dubnow explained that local crews in the flooded Texas areas typically come from smaller, mostly volunteer-based agencies that may still be waiting for additional special operations teams to arrive and assist with the difficult rescue mission.

The catastrophic flooding began Friday, July 4th, when torrential rains fell across central Texas during the Independence Day holiday. Dramatic footage captured flood waters rising over a causeway in Kingsland, Texas, completely submerging it within minutes.

The death toll, which reached at least 78 on Sunday including 28 children, has since climbed to 81 as rescue efforts continue. Fears of additional flooding have prompted evacuations of volunteer responders from some areas.

As the search for missing persons continues, Arizona search and rescue crews are hoping for the safety of both first responders working in the danger zone and the affected Texas communities by extreme weather conditions.