Glenn Youngkin relieved family ended up safe amid Texas floods but says there ‘were moments they weren’t’

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA: Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin shared on Tuesday, July 8, that his wife, Suzanne Youngkin, and several family members were among those rescued from the catastrophic floods that tore through Central Texas over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, leaving more than 112 people dead and many still missing.

“My family was there, along with friends, and by the grace of God, my family was safe,” Youngkin said during a public event in Virginia. 

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin reveals family was rescued from Texas floods

“I have to say, there were moments when they weren’t,” Glenn Youngkin added. “They ended up being safe during the day.”

Youngkin's family members had been staying near the Guadalupe River, one of the areas hit hardest by the flash flooding that overwhelmed large parts of Central Texas.

The governor noted that he and his wife have deep roots in the region, going back 80 years, adding, “These people are family to us, deep relationships, and therefore what happened in the wee hours of the morning on Friday has been devastating. The loss of life is just shocking.”

Local officials confirmed that at least 112 people have died in the floods so far, with more than 170 still missing. Among the dead are 27 girls and staff from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp that took the brunt of the disaster.

Virginia sends Type III rescue units to Texas flood zone

As Texas continues to grapple with the fallout, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that Virginia has deployed two Type III Swift Water Rescue Teams to assist with ongoing recovery and relief operations in the flood zone.

“Our hearts go out to the families and communities in Texas who have been devastated by these historic floods,” Youngkin said in a statement. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Texas, and we are committed to offering any and all support requested during this critical time.”

The tragedy has triggered national concern and federal intervention. President Donald Trump declared a Major Disaster in Texas, allowing FEMA to mobilize teams and resources to support the overwhelmed local agencies.

The president is expected to visit the affected areas on July 11.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott shrugs off accountability with football metaphor

As Texas reels from one of the deadliest natural disasters in its history, state officials are facing increasing backlash over what many see as a delayed and inadequate response to the catastrophic flooding.

Despite growing pressure from grieving families and the public, Texas Governor Greg Abbott dismissed questions about the state’s preparedness as “the words of losers,” using a football analogy to explain away criticism.

“Every square inch of our state cares about football,” Abbott said at a press briefing. “Every football team makes mistakes. We got this. We’re going to make sure that we go score again, that we win this game.”

His remarks, made as rescue crews continue searching for victims in devastated communities like Kerrville and Hunt, have sparked outrage among Texans demanding answers about why evacuation alerts and emergency systems failed so many residents.

The frustration isn't limited to Abbott. Representative Chip Roy, a Republican who represents large portions of the flood-ravaged Texas Hill Country, snapped at reporters questioning the federal and state response, saying, “Finger pointing generally is just offensive when you’re dealing with trying to find bodies, and trying to deal with families grieving.”

Meanwhile, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who was spotted sightseeing in Greece during the height of the disaster, also weighed in, chastising critics for “trying to blame their political opponents for a natural disaster.”