Video footage shows exactly how long it took for the Texas flash flood to overwhelm a family celebrating July 4, after it was confirmed to have resulted in at least 51 deaths and an ongoing search for missing girls.

On a day where Americans celebrate their independence, little did those in and around central Texas know what was about to happen.

A giant flash flood sparked terror as it swept through Kerr County after the Guadalupe River spilled over into neighboring paths.

It has been confirmed that the flood, which took around 45 minutes to become a devastating disaster, has killed at least 51 people, including 15 children, NBC News reports.

Rescue teams are working around the clock to find up to more than 20 children, who were among 750 girls attending Camp Mystic outside of Kerrville. The camp is currently without power, water or WiFi due to the floods.

The flood took place on July 4 in and around central Texas (RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

However, the Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick noted that the missing children are not necessarily ‘lost’, adding: “They could be out of communication.”

As many watch in horror as the true extent of the devastation caused by the flood is uncovered, footage of the beginning of the disaster has circulated on social media for the world to see.

Previously, a timelapse video posted on Twitter showed the full magnitude of the deadly waters as it turned a clear road into a river within minutes.

But now, a TikTok video of a family enjoying the outdoor celebrations has been released, and it has left a lot of people criticizing President Donald Trump in the process.

Starting at 5:43pm, the video shows a small body of water, akin to a stream as the family chatters around it, before it cuts to 6:11pm, showing a steadily flowing river in the same area.

Then, just two minutes later at 6:13pm, gone is the river as it’s replaced with a crashing flood, absorbing trees and a lot of land in its path.

6:31pm’s clip showcases a full-on flood, leaving the family on the edge, watching the ordeal unfold as more and more land is taken over by the murky waters.

Just at the video ends at 6:45pm, a helicopter flew above the family just one minute prior, with the woman filming speculating that they are flying over to take video footage of the floods.

@kelseycrowder_, who took the video, posted it online for all to see and captioned it: “Frio River Flood 2025. NATURE. IS. WILD.”

In the comments, many people had the same complaint – the National Weather System flash floods warning service being discontinued.

At least 51 people have died as a result of the devastating flood (Eric Vryn/Getty Images)

One person wrote: “They got rid of the National Weather System so those alerts that say FLASH FLOOD WARNING were not sent out! Some of these occurred like at 4am mind you.”

Another said: “Imagine if there was a way to warn people in advance.”

Someone else commented: “Texas didn’t have a weather advisory because that fool cut the budget of the national weather service.”

Others were shocked at how fast it can happen, while some were criticizing the family for staying in the area after the initial signs of water rising.

As of right now, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued new flood warnings for those in the area, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott signing an extended emergency declaration.

Some officials claim that budget cuts approved by the Trump administration may have caused communication strains within local emergency responders ahead of the Texas floods.

Devastating flash flooding in central Texas has claimed the lives of at least 82 people since Friday (July 4), with officials confirming 41 people are still unaccounted for across the state.

CNN has confirmed that 68 of the deceased people were situated in Kerr County, located on the Edwards Plateau. 28 of these were children, according to Sheriff Larry Leitha.

It’s estimated that at least 10 girls and one councillor are among those unaccounted for from Camp Mystic – a Kerr County-based Christian camp situated along the Guadalupe River.

“This tragedy has devastated us and our entire community,” Camp Mystic said in a statement. “Our hearts are broken alongside the families that are enduring this tragedy, and we share their hope and prayers.”

There have been 82 confirmed deaths amid the devastating Texas floods (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

When asked why summer camps like Camp Mystic were not evacuated ahead of the severe rainfall, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s top elected official, said, “I can’t answer that. I don’t know.”

According to the New York Times, some Texas officials are attributing the National Weather Service’s (NWS) failure to adequately warn emergency services about rainfall to budget cuts previously approved by US President Donald Trump.

It’s understood that ‘crucial positions’ at local NWS offices – as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – were unfilled due to the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) cost-cutting methods earlier this year.

The publication reported that these staff vacancies may have made it more difficult for the agencies to coordinate bad weather warnings with local Texas emergency managers.

Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization – the union that represents Weather Service workers – claims that the San Angelo NWS office was missing three crucial employees.

Budget cuts previously approved by the president have come under fire (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

These included: a senior hydrologist, a staff forecaster and a meteorologist in charge.

Moreover, Fahy claims the nearby San Antonio office was also missing key staff members, including a warning coordination meteorologist and science officer.

The New York Times reported that the San Antonio office’s warning coordination meteorologist left the company on April 30 after taking an early retirement package offered by the Trump administration.

However, Fahy stated that a handful of these vacancies actually predate Trump’s return to the White House for his second term in office on January 20, 2025.

Meanwhile, former Weather Service officials have defended forecasts delivered ahead of the tragic flash flooding.

It’s reported that they believe the forecasts were as ‘good as could be expected, given the enormous levels of rainfall and the storm’s unusually abrupt escalation’.

The Camp Mystic dorm room which has been ravaged by the Texas flooding. The camp has released a statement amid the tragedy (RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

On Sunday (July 9), Trump, 78, signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County.

He also activated federal emergency management resources in the state while stating his intent to visit in person on Friday (July 11).

“I would have done it today, but we’d just be in their way,” the 47th President of the United States confessed to reporters. “It’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible.”

Speaking on behalf of the NWS, Erica Grow Cei, a certified broadcast meteorologist, said: “The National Weather Service is heartbroken by the tragic loss of life.

She added that the agency remains ‘committed to our mission to serve the American public through our forecasts and decision support services.’

Governor Greg Abbott has vowed that authorities will continue to work around the clock and that new areas will be searched as the water recedes, as per PA.

UNILAD has contacted the National Weather Service and the White House for further comment.

Timelapse footage shows the true devastation of the Texas flash flood, which has resulted in at least 51 deaths and frantic search parties for missing girls.

As America enjoyed their July 4 celebrations across the nation, those outside of Kerrville were hit by deadly flooding.

The flash flood swept through Kerr County in Texas, as the Guadalupe River rose to breaking points within minutes.

At least 51 people – including 15 children – have been confirmed to have died, the NBC News reports.

Rescue teams are currently working around the clock to find up to more than 20 children, who were among the 750 girls attending the Camp Mystic, a summer camp outside of Kerrville that was swept up in the water.

After the floods, the camp has been left without power, water or WiFi, with Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick explaining that the missing children are not necessarily ‘lost’, adding: “They could be out of communication.”

Texas has been hit with a devastating flash flood, leaving at least 51 dead (Eric Vryn/Getty Images)

As many parents desperately appeal for the whereabouts of their daughters, sadly, the mother of Camp Mystic member Janie Hunt, nine, confirmed to CNN that her daughter has died because of the floods.

On July 5, the Kerrville Police Department said in an update that rescue teams will ‘continue until we find all our citizens’.

“Hundreds of first responders are here with resources from throughout the state to help us,” they added on Facebook. “Our thoughts remain with those who are unaccounted for and their loved ones. They are our focus and will remain so.”

As the world watches on, many may be unable to understand just how fast the floods came through the area.

But a timelapse video posted on Twitter shows the full magnitude of the deadly waters, which took approximately seven minutes to turn its clear path into a swamp.

Rescue efforts for potential survivors – including children part of a summer camp – are continuing (Eric Vryn/Getty Images)

The video shows a group of people walking towards a dip in the road when suddenly, the floods storm past, turning the once clear path into a deadly flash flood.

In the comments, many were shocked, and grieving.

One person asked: “Yeah that’s becoming WAY too familiar of a scene. What’s going on?” as another said: “That is scary! No wonder people couldn’t evacuate in time. But, why were they not warned?”

Someone else wrote: “Who could’ve predicted this? NOAA alerts notwithstanding… Horrifying.”

As of right now, rainfall continues to make its way through Lone Star State, and the National Weather Service (NWS) issued new flood warnings for those living and working within the area.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an extended emergency declaration and also requested support from the federal government with the floods.

The tragedy has left many wondering how such a thing could have happened so suddenly, with Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly saying a disaster of such magnitude was unforeseen.

Dalton Rice, city manager for Kerrville, has explained the reason why it happened, telling press: “When you look at the headwaters of the Guadalupe… there’s a north and a south fork.

“Since 1987, under normal conditions, if you can call it that, you’ll hit water in one of those areas, and those two forks will converge into the Guadalupe, which comes through the city of Kerrville.”

Rice continued: “This rain event sat on top of that and dumped more rain than what was forecasted on both of those forks.

“When we got the report, it was about 7 feet or so on the south fork, and within a matter of minutes it was up to 29 feet, and all of that converged at Guadalupe.”

The White House has addressed claims by Texas officials that Donald Trump’s cuts may be to blame for the devastating flash floods in the state.

As America enjoyed the Fourth of July celebrations on Friday, hundreds just outside the Texan town of Kerrville were hit by deadly floods.

The flash flooding has swept through Kerr County in Texas, as rescue teams continue to look for survivors.

It 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. This lead to a state of emergency being declared in several counties.

The death toll from the floods has since climbed to more than 100, while a unknown number of others are still missing, officials have confirmed.

Over 100 people have died as a result of the floods (RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

84 of the victims died in Kerr county, while the Sheriff has said 22 adults and 10 children have yet to be identified.

Some Texas officials are attributing the National Weather Service’s (NWS) failure to adequately warn emergency services about rainfall to blame, according to the New York Times.

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 has now hit back at speculation President Trump is to blame for the Texas floods.

“Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie and it serves no purpose in the time of national mourning,” she said.

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.

Donald Trump is not to blame, according to the White House press secretary (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Leavitt added: “That [the floods] was an act of God. It’s not the administration’s fault that the flood hit when it did, but there were early and consistent warnings and, again, the National Weather Service did its job.”

On Sunday (July 6), Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County amid the ongoing tragedy.

“I would have done it today, but we’d just be in their way,” the president told pres. “It’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible.”

Speaking on behalf of the NWS, Erica Grow Cei, a certified broadcast meteorologist, has also spoken out following the July 4th weekend tragedy.

“The National Weather Service is heartbroken by the tragic loss of life,” she said.

The expert added that the agency remains ‘committed to our mission to serve the American public through our forecasts and decision support services’.