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Were two missing girls in Texas Flood rescued from a tree? Viral post debunked

A false claim about the rescue of two missing girls during the Central Texas floods made its way to social media
posted by Ashim Arora
Monday 7/7/2025 at 7:55AM EDT
  • Rescue efforts are still ongoing amidst the Central Texas floods (Image via Facebook/Kerr County Sheriff's Office)
    Rescue efforts are still ongoing amidst the Central Texas floods (Image via Facebook/Kerr County Sheriff's Office)

    Many heartbreaking stories of victims are coming out following the Central Texas floods. Amidst the reporting of harrowing details around the calamity, a miraculous account of the rescue of two missing girls also went viral. Per the online claims, they were found alive in a tree and were saved by the first responders. 

    According to The Kerr County Lead, the viral reports around the rescue of two girls from a tree are false. The outlet cited Sheriff Larry Leitha, who asserted that the reports are “100% inaccurate.” Later, the representative for Texas also tweeted The Kerr County Lead’s story and warned everyone against the misinformation, 

    “The story of rescues in Kendall County was NOT true.  Please be careful regarding possible fake news, even if well intended...  It’s not fair to families and it distracts law enforcement…” 

    Per the New York Post, the story of the Texas flood rescue was shared by Cord Shiflet in a now-deleted Facebook post. In his false account, Shiflet claimed that two girls were found clinging to a 30-feet-high tree in Kendall County, Texas’ Comfort. 

    Many have lost their lives in the Texas floods, with most of the casualties being reported in Kerr County. Several people are still unaccounted for, and rescue efforts are ongoing. 

    More than 80 people are dead after the Central Texas floods, with many still missing 

    During the early hours of Friday, July 4, 2025, the water levels in the Guadalupe River surged significantly, causing flash floods. Multiple regions, primarily Kerr County, were impacted by the Central Texas floods. The City of Kerrville cited the National Weather Service to claim that the “Guadalupe River at Hunt reached its second highest height on record.” 

    The water levels rose from “7 feet at midnight last night to over 29 feet” at 4:00 am on July 4. According to KXAN News, at least 82 people have lost their lives due to the Texas floods. The death toll in Kerr County is the highest, with 68 fatalities. 

    Six and three people have died in Travis and Burnet Counties, respectively. Authorities believe five more deaths have occurred – two in Kendall County, two in Williamson County, and one in Tom Green County. Furthermore, over 40 people are reported missing, as of this writing. 

    The site of Camp Mystic in Hunt, Kerr County, has faced massive devastation. Five of the casualties were the young girls aged between eight and nine, while the summer camp’s director also died after the Texas floods. According to the authorities, 10 campers and a counselor are still missing. 

    TOPICS: Texas Flood, Camp Mystic, Flash Floods, Human Interest, Texas, Texas floods


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