The White House’s Faith Office issued a statement on Monday morning calling for prayers.
The White House asked Americans to pray amid flooding in Texas over the July 4 holiday weekend that left more than 80 people dead, including children who attended a Christian camp.
The White House’s Faith Office said in a statement on Monday morning that it is asking people “to join us in prayer for the precious lives lost in the Texas floods,” adding that “amidst this tragedy, our nation must come together to pray for the victims, their families, and the first responders conducting rescue missions to find those still missing.”
“May God wrap his loving arms around all those in Texas,” the statement continued before quoting the Bible’s Psalm 34:18.
It comes as flash floods in Texas killed at least 82 people over the weekend, while others are still missing, including girls attending a summer camp. The devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio, has drawn a massive search effort as officials face questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions.
After a flood watch notice midday Thursday, the National Weather Service issued an urgent warning around 4 a.m. that raised the potential of catastrophic damage and a severe threat to human life. By 5:20 a.m., some in the Kerrville City area say water levels were getting alarmingly high. The massive rain flowing down hills sent rushing water into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise 26 feet in just 45 minutes.
Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday that there were 41 people confirmed to be unaccounted for across the state and that more could be missing.
In Kerr County, home to youth camps in the Texas Hill Country, searchers have found the bodies of 68 people, including 28 children, Sheriff Larry Leitha said Sunday afternoon. Fatalities in nearby counties brought the total number of deaths to 79 as of Sunday evening.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, who lives along the Guadalupe River, said Saturday that “ nobody saw this coming.” Various officials have referred to it as a “100-year-flood,” meaning that the water levels were highly unlikely based on the historical record.
On Sunday, Trump issued a statement on social media saying that he signed a major disaster declaration for Texas due to the floods, while the Department of Homeland Security confirmed it is sending the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for recovery efforts.
