US Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan, who was assisting with search and rescue efforts in Texas, has been hailed as a hero after a Department of Homeland Security official said he saved 165 people.

Ruskan was among the Coast Guard members deployed after President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration Sunday, unlocking key federal resources to the state.

What should have been a one hour flight into the landing zone near the camp took about seven or eight hours due to the severe weather that caused “some of the worst flying we’ve ever dealt with,” Ruskan told ABC’s Good Morning America.

On the ground, Ruskan realized he was the only first responder around and was met with “about 200 kids, mostly all scared, terrified, cold, having probably the worst day of their life.”

He led the children, about 10 to 15 at a time, to army helicopters ready to take them to higher ground.

“Those guys are heroic. And you know, they were dealing with some of the worst times their lives, and they were staying strong, and that helped inspire me to kind of get in there and help them out.”

Though it was his first mission, Ruskan told ABC he was well prepared.

“I really just kind of relied on the training we get. Coast Guard rescue swimmers get some of the highest level training in the world,” he said. “Any of the rescue swimmers in the Coast Guard would have done the exact same, if not better than me.”

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem hailed Ruskan as “an American hero” in a post on X.

So far, the US Coast Guard has assisted with more than 230 rescues, according to the DHS official. There are three fixed-wing aircraft with thermal cameras, which can critically help identify movement from the air. The Coast Guard has also deployed two MH-65 Dolphin helicopters to help with evacuations, the DHS official said.

✕ Close Watch: Deadly flooding in Texas captured from bridge

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A desperate search for at least 10 children campers continued into Monday morning after devastating floods had killed at least 82 people in central Texas.

The group of girls and one counselor are missing from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River that was ravaged by the floods, officials said.

At least four girls missing from the summer camp were found dead. At least 28 children were killed in what Texas Representative Chip Roy called a “once-in-a-century flood.”

Two girls — 13-year-old Blair and 11-year-old Brooke — were among those killed by the floods, their father told CNN on Saturday night. Harber said Blair “was a gifted student and had a generous, kind heart,” and described Brooke as “like a light in any room, people gravitated to her.”

The unexpected flash flooding struck on Friday before the July Fourth weekend after torrential rain along the Guadalupe River. The destructive force of the fast-rising waters just before dawn on Friday washed out homes and swept away vehicles.

A Texas camp hit hard by catastrophic flooding has spoken out about the “unimaginable tragedy” of losing 27 of its campers.

“Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe river,” an online statement read. “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.”

Local officials are still searching for the missing three days after flash floods first smashed into south-central Texas, claiming at least 82 lives. The floods hit Kerr County and its surrounding areas at the start of the holiday weekend, leaving locals, campers, and July 4th visitors swept up in the catastrophic floods.

Military personnel carry a camp trunk salvaged downriver from Camp Mystic, which has reported that 27 of its campers and counselors remain missing (AP)

Local and state officials are still searching for the missing three days after flash floods first smashed into south-central Texas, claiming at least 82 lives. The floods hit Kerr County and its surrounding areas at the start of the holiday weekend (AP)

Rescue efforts were still in full force Sunday and into Monday as emergency crews raced against the clock to find the missing girls from Camp Mystic. In its statement the camp added that “extensive resources” had been deployed to find its missing campers and counselors.

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level,” the statement read. “We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.”

Established in 1962, Camp Mystic is a private Christian summer camp for girls that is located on the banks of the Guadalupe River and 18 miles northwest of Kerrville.

One camper, rescued from the scene of the carnage was 13-year-old Stella Thompson, from Dallas, who said she and others were “hysterical” when they learned other campers had been lost in flooding. “It didn’t look like Camp Mystic anymore,” she told NBC5.

Camper Stella Thompson, 13, and her friends were eventually evacuated by military trucks. She told NBC that huge trees had been uprooted, with vehicles and girls’ camp trunks and clothes flung far and wide, as well as first responders searching in the water (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

“I think while it was going on I sort of felt a numbness,” Thompson, who was enjoying her sixth summer at the camp, said. “Saying it out loud is making me realize what actually happened and how bad it actually is.”

She added: “Eventually, when we got that news, we were all kind of hysterical, and the whole cabin was praying a lot and terrified – but not for ourselves.”

Thompson and her friends were eventually evacuated by military trucks. She told NBC that huge trees had been uprooted, with vehicles and girls’ camp trunks and clothes flung far and wide, as well as first responders searching in the water.

Some of the youngsters from Camp Mystic have already been named by their families online, including eight-year-old Sara Marsh, from Alabama, and Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence, eight-year-old twin sisters from Dallas.

On Sunday, people look through belongings in a camp trunk at Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area (AP)

Texas Governor Greg Abbott visited the camp, saying that it ‘horrendously ravaged in ways unlike I’ve seen in any natural disaster’ after visiting Camp Mystic on Saturday (AP)

On Saturday Texas Governor Greg Abbott visited the camp, saying that it “horrendously ravaged in ways unlike I’ve seen in any natural disaster.”

“The height the rushing water reached to the top of cabins was shocking,” he wrote on X, before vowing: “We won’t stop until we find every girl who was in those cabins.”

Despite the devastation, the region is bracing for yet more heavy rainfall on Monday, which may complicate ongoing search efforts.

There are reports of an additional “wall of water” heading toward Kerr County, Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said at a Sunday afternoon press conference.

Issues arose late Thursday, after the National Weather Service predicted between 1 and 3 inches of rain for most areas – yet the region was surprised by a torrential downpour along the Guadalupe River that led to flash floods.

Parts of Kerr County received 10 to 15 inches in a short span of time.

‘Our hearts are broken’: 27 children and staff killed in Texas flash flooding, girls’ summer camp confirms

Camp Mystic is a private Christian summer camp for girls, established in 1926. Picture: Picture: Social media/handouts

By Flaminia Luck

27 children and staff have been killed in flash flooding in Texas, the girls’ summer camp which was affected has confirmed.

Listen to this article Loading audio…

The private Christian girls’ camp – Camp Mystic – located on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County was deluged after heavy rainfall.

“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” the camp said in a statement on Monday.

According to officials, the total death toll has now risen to at least 78, according to officials, with authorities coming under fire for a lack of transparency and organisation when it comes to updates on those missing.

The catastrophe unfolded in the early hours of Friday last week after the Guadalupe River rose 26ft in 45 minutes.

Camp Mystic’s director, Richard ‘Dick’ Eastland, 70, died while trying to save girls after a month’s worth of rain battered Hunt in a matter of minutes.

Most of the missing girls are from the younger age bracket, and were sleeping just yards away from the banks of the Guadalupe River.

Around 750 girls had been staying at the camp when the flooding began, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said.

Read more: Pictured: The girls dead or missing from Texas children’s camp as site releases first statement since floods struck

Flash floods kill 67 in US state of Texas. Picture: Getty

Kerrville resident Leighton Sterling watches flood waters along the Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Picture: Getty

Their full statement reads: “Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe river.

“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.

“We are praying for them constantly.

“We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level.

“We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected.

“May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.”

Read more: Three killed in horror mass shooting in Philadelphia which saw numerous shots being fired

Officials are seen in the Guadalupe River as they assist in recovery efforts after a flash flood swept through the area. Picture: Alamy

A sign for Camp Mystic is seen on a hill as a heavy-lift military helicopter flies by over the Guadalupe River. Picture: Alamy

Sheriff Larry Leitha has said: “We extend our sincerest condolences and prayers to every single family affected by this tragedy, and we continue to work around the clock to reunite these families.

“The death toll will continue as search efforts continue, officials have said, with around 850 people rescued so far.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has faced criticism over the delayed warnings received by Texas locals, after jobs were slashed at the National Weather Centre under the Trump administration.

It’s been revealed that alerts linked to flash flooding were only issued during the early hours of the morning – after many residents were already asleep and moments before the flood waters hit.

It comes as the National Weather Service came under fire – with many pointing the finger of blame at extensive DOGE cuts, with around 600 people fired from the agency in recent months following Trump’s federal cuts.

Details have emerged of how residents were not warned of flooding until 1:18pm on July 3, with warnings of ‘moderate’ storms rolling in – a marked contrast to the widespread flooding that hit.

Floods in US state of Texas. Picture: Getty

President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration on Sunday for Kerr County and said he would likely visit on Friday: “I would have done it today, but we’d just be in their way.

“It’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible,” he told reporters.

Governor Abbott vowed that authorities will work around the clock and said new areas were being searched as the water receded. He declared Sunday a day of prayer for the state.