As the waters begin to recede in what has become one of the deadliest natural disasters in Texas history, the numbers are growing more grim by the hour: at least 130 confirmed dead, and over 170 still unaccounted for following the catastrophic flooding that has devastated the Texas Hill Country.
This morning, former President Donald J. Trump arrived by helicopter to survey the hardest-hit areas around Llano, Burnet, and Marble Falls, walking side-by-side with local officials and emergency responders through communities reduced to wreckage.
In a solemn press statement delivered from the edge of a collapsed bridge in Llano County, Trump said:
“This is absolute heartbreak. The loss here is unimaginable — entire families, gone. But what I’ve seen today is also strength. Texas doesn’t give up.”
With rows of destroyed homes and waterlogged churches behind him, Trump met privately with families of flood victims, listened to stories of survival, and pledged immediate action.
“We’re not going to wait. We’re going to rebuild — stronger, faster, and with every bit of help this state deserves.”
His visit comes amid mounting concern from residents who feel their cries for aid have gone unheard. Many towns remain without power, access to clean water, or clear communication. But Trump’s appearance, though symbolic, has already helped to amplify the voices of the forgotten, drawing renewed media attention and federal response.
Meanwhile, local communities have stepped up in extraordinary ways. In Liberty Hill, neighbors are organizing rescue patrols on horseback. In Fredericksburg, ranchers are turning barns into shelters. Churches from Austin to Abilene have opened their doors to evacuees, offering food, warmth, and prayer.
But the grief is overwhelming.
In a widely shared video from a Kerrville shelter, a mother clutches her child’s water-stained teddy bear and whispers, “We lost everything. But we’re still breathing. And for now, that has to be enough.”
As the search for the missing continues, and the heartbreak deepens, one truth remains:
This isn’t just a flood. This is a statewide tragedy. And the road to healing — though long and uncertain — begins with every Texan standing for their neighbor.
Because in Texas, even when the waters rise, hope always rises higher.
