Flooding and Devastation in Texas

Like many of you, I have children at sleepaway camp for the summer. Whether it’s children or grandchildren, the vast majority of us know the excitement of camp drop-offs, the relief of receiving camp letters, and the fulfillment of happy camp returns. The idea of a child not returning from summer camp is unfathomable, and losing children to unspeakable tragedy is gut-wrenchingly painful, even for outside observers.

It was with this perspective that we have been watching the news from Central Texas, where catastrophic flooding has devastated whole communities and towns, as well as Camp Mystic in Kerr County. This nearly century-old girls’ summer camp along the Guadalupe River is grieving the horrific loss of 27 campers and counselors, as well as the heroic camp director who died trying to save lives. At least five campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for from Camp Mystic, where flash flooding hit the hardest beginning in the early morning of July 4.

As of the writing of this email, more than 100 people have been confirmed dead, and at least 161 remain missing as search and rescue operations across Central Texas enter their fifth day. Our hearts break for each of the families impacted by this tragedy, including members of our JDCA community. While there will come a time to consider what more could have been done to provide better forecasting, alerts, and warnings in advance of such flooding, with search operations still underway, we’re thinking of those impacted in Texas and offering all we can in the form of support.

If you’d like to offer your support, please consider doing so through the Shalom Austin Flood Relief Campaign. Shalom Austin, which is a part of the Texas Jewish Federations, is raising funds to provide urgent relief and recovery assistance to those affected, including emergency financial assistance and emergency housing. Shalom Austin is also coordinating with local and national partners to allocate resources to trusted organizations delivering on-the-ground support in Central Texas. The link to give directly to Shalom Austin’s Flood Relief Campaign is here.

Our hearts are with Texas and all those impacted by this devastating and tragic loss.

Thank you,

Halie Soifer

CEO, Jewish Democratic Council of America