Featured Image Credit: Kellye Badon/Facebook
Topics: Texas floods, US News
Callum Jones
A father has shared the last message he received from his daughter before she was tragically swept away in the Texas floods.
At least 109 people have been killed as a result of flash flooding in central Texas, with rescue teams continuing to look for at least 161 missing people.
The floods have swept away mobile homes, vehicles, and holiday cabins, which were being used by Americans celebrating Independence Day.
One month’s worth of heavy rain fell in a matter of hours, leading to the Guadalupe River rising to the dangerous level of 26 feet.
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Joyce Catherine Badon was trapped along the river after hanging out with a group of college friends at the time of the deadly flash floods.
The 21-year-old sent a heartbreaking four-word text to her father Ty Badon before she was swept away, according to AFP.
Louis Deppe, a leader of a volunteer search group, detailed the text by telling the outlet: "On her cellphone, the last message [her family] got was 'we're being washed away' and the phone went dead."
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Joyce's mother Kellye Badon took to Facebook to share a message about her daughter after her body was found.
"God showed us the way we should go this morning!"
"We found our lovely daughter who blessed us for 21 years! We pray to be able to find her three friends soon. Thanks to EVERYONE for the prayers and support. God is good!"
Ella Cahill, Aidan Heartfield and Reese Manchaca - who were with Joyce at the time - are also missing according to 12 News Now.
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Ty told CNN that the group of pals were staying at a house owned by Aidan’s father who was on the phone to his dad just moments before the floods came rushing in.
"Aidan said, 'Hey I've got to go, I've got to help Ella and Reese ... they just got washed away', and then a few seconds later the phone just went dead, and that's all we know," Ty said.
Some Texas officials are attributing the National Weather Service's (NWS) failure to adequately warn emergency services about rainfall to blame for the deadly floods, according to the New York Times.
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It’s understood that ‘crucial positions’ at local NWS offices were unfilled due to the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) cost-cutting methods introduced by Elon Musk earlier this year.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie and it serves no purpose in the time of national mourning."
The White House press secretary went on to say the NWS 'executed timely and precise forecasts and warnings' despite the 'unprecedented rainfall' coming in Texas.