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Desperate Search for Survivors in Texas; Alan Trevino is Interviewed about Floods in Texas; Nearly Five Million Are under Flood Watch in Central Texas; Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) is Interviewed about Ceasefire Talks; Millions Head Home After Holiday Weekend. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired July 07, 2025 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:30:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Necessary at this hour.

Josh, what are you learning.

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we've just seen numerous resources being brought in from around the state, indeed from other states offering resources as well. We know that when this first started on Friday, on July 4th, that the U.S. Coast Guard was called up in order to provide their specialized helicopters to come in and do search and rescue, the Texas National Guard. And then you had a bunch of ground teams that continue at this hour, still looking and trying to rescue people. We're also told that the Texas Military Department got approval to fly reaper drones. Those are flying now. They've been launched out of Houston, along a specialized route that the FAA provided in order to provide that overwatch.

So, a massive effort. Of course, there are a lot of questions from local residents as well about the alerts that may not have gone out early on. I mean, that's a big question that people there still want answers to.

And I'll just tell you, I mean, personally, as a reporter, you know, we don't want to become the story. It's actually kind of cringey. But I'll -- I'll do it in this instance just to say that I'm actually from this area. I lived not far from Camp Mystic, along the Guadalupe. I was watching those images of my old school being used as an evacuation zone, as those helicopters were landing. And I've just been on the phone nonstop with people who still can't believe what happened. I mean, I talked to my mom yesterday who said that even days later she is still crying nonstop just because of what happened to this area.

And for those who know the hill country, I mean, when you say the word "community," that's not really a place. It's a state of being there. This is a place where people come together, where you look out for your neighbor. It's an area where a lot of visitors come into town as well in order to enjoy the recreation. And the community wraps their arms around people who come in on any given day, but especially here during a time of tragedy. The final point I'll make as well is I'm very familiar with these

camps, particularly with Camp Mystic. Two quick things. I mean the first thing is I think we are going to hear some really powerful stories of the camp counselors (INAUDIBLE) were working to save those little ones. And when we talk about camp counselors, we're talking about people that are probably 18, 22 years old. So, young people themselves trying to rescue those.

And then, you know, the last thing I'll just mention is, when you talk about the river itself, I mean this is obviously a place of recreation. It's a place that people there respect. They prepare for these kind of things. But again, I circle back, a lot of people that I've been talking to, no one knows anyone who actually got an alert that this was coming. So, there will be a question about whether more could have been done in order to provide awareness.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

Josh, thank you so much for that perspective. It's good to see you.

Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we want to show you now some new video that's just in to CNN. It shows the dramatic moment teams rescued two people in central Texas and brought them to shore as floodwaters rage. Those two lights you're seeing there blare at you, those two lights are rescuers in a boat grabbing people. The two people were clinging to a tree. This happened in the town of Marble Falls, which is in Burnet County.

Joining me now is Alan Trevino, chief deputy of Burnet County Sheriff's Office.

Sir, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us. I know this has been a horrific time in your community and for your first responders just trying to save people.

At one point this weekend there were five people missing, three people who were killed in your county due to this flash flood. What is the latest on the rescue and recovery effort there now?

CHIEF DEPUTY ALAN TREVINO, BURNET COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Thank you for having me. Yes, our current totals are still three that have been recovered, bodies, and we still -- and now our numbers are down to three missing. And 63 documented rescues of people that we have either plucked from trees, rooftops, homes, that -- that are -- are considered a rescue from the number of law enforcement, fire and. EMS and -- and private citizens that have assisted.

SIDNER: We understand that one of the people missing is a volunteer fire chief named Michael Phillips. What can you tell us about him and where he was and what he might have been doing when the flash flood happened?

TREVINO: He was in an area called Cow Creek, and was responding to a rescue. And as soon as his vehicle went off the road, we were -- we knew that that was the case. We had our deputies traveling the county checking low water spots as the rain was coming in, and we had three of our deputies that were stranded on -- on roadways. Safe, but stranded. And were -- we watched as, unfortunately, as his vehicle did go off -- off the roadway.

SIDNER: I'm so sorry to hear that and sorry to hear that he is still missing at this hour.

Can you explain to me or answer the question, I mean, why do you think so many people were caught off guard?

[09:35:04]

There have been a lot of discussions between the state officials sort of saying, look, the National Weather Service didn't get us the information fast enough or -- or make it as severe as they should have. Why do you think so many people just didn't get out in time?

TREVINO: And I'm -- not to -- we're -- I'm not point blaming anybody, but I -- I think from our standpoint, you know, we had had a significant amount of rain the day before and we were able to -- it -- it was manageable. And in speaking with other counties and looking for resources and watching the weather, when I went to bed that night, it was -- we -- we were not going to get the same amount of rain that -- that -- what -- what we got. And once it hit, roughly 3:30 when our alerts started going off and -- and then certainly whenever the -- the volunteer fire chief went missing, when his vehicle went off, is whenever we had a significant response. But at night, when -- when -- when everybody's in bed and it makes it worse because you can't see, and the responders can't -- can't see as they're -- as they're coming to the different rescue locations.

SIDNER: Do you think it would have been prudent to have sirens? I know your county doesn't have them. Some of the other counties don't have them. Is that something that you think, in the future, could be helpful?

TREVINO: I think certainly something that we should explore and see if that is -- is -- would be helpful for future storms. We've -- we had a significant storm in 2018, and -- and this one is -- I was asked yesterday whether or not this was -- was worse. I -- you know, don't -- don't know the answer to that. I just know that we've had a tremendous amount of -- of support from state and local resources. And -- and, as I heard you mentioned earlier, many other states and federal assistance coming in. You know, and, obviously, we have two working locations with -- with what's happening in Kerr County, plus what's happening here in Burnet County.

We are very appreciative. And -- and we are -- we're definitely working through the resources. And -- and we have -- today, we have three active searches going, one in the northern part of the county and two in the southern part of the county, working with our counterparts in Travis County, the location where most of these are occurring is called Cow Creek, and -- and that flows right into Travis County. So, we are -- we are combining resources with Travis County and -- and making sure that we're -- that we are searching it from both -- both sides of the county. And we're working in and out of both counties.

SIDNER: Chief Deputy Alan Trevino, thank you for taking the time. And good luck to you and your crews out there as you continue these searches, including for one of your own. Appreciate it.

John.

BERMAN: All right, we have new concerns about flooding. You can see over there in Texas. But now also in North Carolina as well. Some alerts for major flooding just going out this morning. Stand by for much more ahead.

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[09:42:53]

BERMAN: All right, this morning, a flood watch in central Texas has now been extended to nearly 5 million people. That comes as hundreds of first responders joined a search for survivors of the flash flooding there.

Want to get to CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam for the latest there, but also other flood concerns in the country this morning.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, so much focus is on Texas. Rightly so. But there are other flood concerns across the northeast as well. Look, I want to show you just what flash flooding can do. And guess what? The atmosphere is not done producing rainfall over the hill country region.

This is what it looked like on the Fourth of July in Llano County. Look at how quickly this engulfs the roadways, swallows up these trees. Even some of the people there in the ground starting to run for cover. It rose 22 feet in 30 minutes. That is flash flooding. And that is why it takes people off guard and why it's so dangerous.

Now, that's from Llano County. Unfortunately, the same areas have now just been placed under a flash flood warning. So, there is additional rainfall moving into these same locations. Remember, we're focusing a lot of our attention on the Guadalupe River, which is to the south near Kerrville. But just to the north, there was other flash flooding that took place over the holiday weekend. And now these locations are under this flash flood warning, where you see that shading of red.

Here's the reason why. The atmosphere, not done raining just yet. Not a lot to push out these storms. They're producing rainfall over the same locations for several hours at a time. That's called a train of storms or training of thunderstorms.

We've got a large area for the potential of flash flooding today. But pinpointing exactly who will get the heaviest rainfall, that is the difficulty in this weather forecast. But one thing's for sure, the Weather Prediction Center, National Weather Service highlighting anywhere from two to four inches, locally higher, out of any of the storms that set up today. And that's certainly being realized there in Llano County. Take you to the other side of the country. This is the East Coast.

This is the remnants of another tropical system, Chantal, that is now a disturbance. But look at the flooding in Orange County, North Carolina. We have flood watches for millions of people, from Baltimore to Philadelphia.

[09:45:02]

There it is, wrapping into itself.

John, we're not done with this system just yet. Check out the flood risk today across the Northeast.

BERMAN: A lot of people in that map right there. Derek Van Dam, thank you very much.

Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is headed to the White House, meeting with President Trump just as Israel and Hamas resume hostage and ceasefire talks in Qatar. The current framework of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal would include the release of all remaining hostages, living and dead, and assurances about ending this war. Hamas announced on Friday it had submitted what they called a positive response to the proposal. President Trump suggested he has high hopes for the negotiations this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think there's a good chance we have a deal with Hamas during the week, during the coming week, pertaining to quite a few of the hostages, yes. You know, we've gotten a lot of the hostages out, but pertaining to the remaining hostages, quite a few of them will be coming out. We think we'll have that done this week.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Could be a huge week on this front.

Joining us right now is Republican Congressman Warren Davidson from Ohio. He sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Congressman, thank you for coming in this morning.

What do you want to see, or maybe it's, what do you expect can come from this meeting this evening between the president and Netanyahu?

REP. WARREN DAVIDSON (R-OH): Well, good morning, Kate.

You know, whenever President Trump and President Netanyahu are meeting, or Prime Minister Netanyahu are meeting, there -- there's a likelihood of something productive coming out of it. I'm hopeful that the ceasefire actually takes effect and results in a -- a satisfactory conclusion. I mean, for families that have been without their loved ones for all this time, I mean nearly two years now of captivity for -- for people. So, it's horrific.

And, you know, for the people in Israel, a lot of the people I speak with, they feel like the only just outcome is, there is no more Hamas, no more Hamas governing Gaza. So, it's hard to see how -- how Hamas negotiates an end like that. But I hope we -- we have a satisfactory, peaceful resolution that endures.

BOLDUAN: And you're getting at an important aspect of this, which -- what is -- I was talking about it earlier with Beth Sanner of the -- the -- the day after plan and where the discussions are or aren't about what happens in Gaza the day after, because it was not long ago -- Netanyahu says the day after must include Hamas never regaining control or power in Gaza. It wasn't long ago the president, President Trump, had laid out his vision for ending the war that included the U.S. kind of taking ownership of Gaza, redeveloping the territory into the riviera of the Middle East, as he had said.

And I'm curious your view on that -- is that the level of U.S. involvement that you want to see in the day after in Gaza, or think is necessary to bring this end to this conflict now given the dynamic -- the dynamic shifting?

DAVIDSON: Well, I certainly don't feel like it's Americas responsibility to rebuild Gaza. But I think what the president -- what President Trump did is, he secured pledges from other countries, like Saudi Arabia, to commit to help fund that redevelopment of Gaza. The hard thing is, who governs it? Who can govern it that people trust? How can you have a peaceful future in Gaza for the Palestinians who live there and, frankly, for their neighbors in Israel?

I mean, let's not forget, 10/7 is a horrific massacre where, you know, young people were at a music concert thinking they were just going to have a good time, and they were brutally massacred. Some of them are still in captivity. Just horrific rapes. I mean, just -- things that -- that the -- Hamas terrorists were boasting about on social media. They were very proud about their actions. There was no shame. And so, how do you make peace with people that have that ideology? I think that's really hard for a lot of people to see.

And nevertheless, even within Israel, I've got friends there who are very sympathetic to families whose -- whose family members have been held captive, and they just want their family members back. And they feel like the Palestinians have no real path to choose their own government in -- in Gaza either. So, how do you secure a peace?

I think that's where Trump's paradigm shift is saying, well, what if America took responsibility for it? And it really did help bring people to the -- to the table and start framing the issue differently.

BOLDUAN: I want to ask you, back here at home, kind of looking at the politics of where things are. After -- after the president signed that big tax and spending bill on the Fourth of July, you have Elon Musk and Donald Trump now continuing, and back at it fighting again. Musk tweeting, suggesting about Jeffrey Epstein connections once again. Donald Trump calling Musk a train wreck. In June, you -- when you were against the massive tax and spending bill before you were for it, you -- you thanked Musk, I saw, and I reminded myself, in a tweet for calling out the bill and what it had done when he called it out as a disgusting abomination because of the spending.

[09:50:05]

Do you support him now forming a new political party, as he says it is, in the name of fighting deficits and debt?

DAVIDSON: Well, look, I love President Trump and I love Elon Musk. I think it's clear that Elon Musk has kind of shifted in a lot of ways. He's kind of, you know, I think a lot of people are concerned about where he's coming from and how he's approaching things. He's a brilliant guy. He's been phenomenally successful in business. And we had hoped to see him continue to do that in politics.

But, you know, his America -- his America Party, the ideology is that there's this center that really wants less government. But the reality is, in Congress, all the Democrats want a bigger government, at least a third, maybe half of Republicans want a bigger government, albeit focused differently. And so, the big government coalition has -- has agreed that the common enemy are the Republicans, who want a smaller, more accountable government. That's who Elon Musk appealed to is small government Republicans when he was talking about DOGE.

And let's -- look, the D.C. swamp exacted its price. And so, to get the big, beautiful bill across the line, you had all kinds of deals being cut with blue amnesty states for SALT deductions, state and local tax deductions that were really expensive, originally $350 billion negotiated down to about half that. And you had -- you had, you know, Republicans, none of whom voted for the green new deal, fighting to defend the green new deal. So, there were other things in there as well.

So, I think Elon Musk is right to be frustrated. A lot of people are. And, you know, look, markets do math, right. They don't go just off press releases and journalism majors. They're looking at the math behind this bill. And Moody's downgraded our credit rating and interest rates went up by almost a whole percent.

So, there's consequences for these big deficits. And people are feeling them with inflation. So, I think my hope is that Musk comes back to the fold and we work together. We need the whole coalition working in the same direction.

BOLDUAN: Sounds like, well, let's see, first and foremost, what exactly that party looks like, and then you'll see, I guess.

Good to see you, Congressman. Thanks for coming in.

Sara.

SIDNER: All right, ahead, we continue following our breaking news out of central Texas this morning. Dozens of people are still missing after the deadly flooding there. The debris and fluctuating water levels making search and rescue efforts extremely difficult. We'll have more on that story, ahead.

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[09:55:42]

SIDNER: All right, today, millions of Americans are expected to head home after the July 4th holiday weekend. Sunday was considered to be the busiest travel day of the holiday weekend normally, but apparently a whole bunch of people put off leaving until today to try and skip the traffic.

Unlike us, Rafael Romo is live at Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport.

We're all back at work, but apparently there's going to be potentially some lines today, yes?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. That can be the case at airports across the nation. Not so much here in Atlanta. So far, so good here at the world's busiest airport, considering it's a Monday morning after the Fourth of July holiday weekend. People that we've talked to seem pleasantly surprised that the lines aren't that bad. An estimated 72.2 million people were expected to travel this holiday according to AAA during the period between Saturday, June 28th and yesterday, Sunday, July the 6th. The breakup is as follows, Sara, 61.6 million people were expected to travel by car, a 2.2 percent increase from last year. An additional 5.84 million were traveling by air. That's 1.4 percent more than the last July 4th holiday. And 4.78 million were going to destinations by bus, train or cruise.

Just a few moments ago, I had an opportunity to talk to a couple from Texas, visiting Atlanta for the Fourth of July weekend, and they said, well, we're going back home. We've seen it worse.

Sara, now back to you.

SIDNER: Not bad, friends. Not bad. But we're all back at work --

BERMAN: That's right.

SIDNER: Because we're responsible.

BOLDUAN: It's wonderful.

SIDNER: Because we love it.

BERMAN: Thank you for joining us as we all return to work. This has been CNN NEWS CENTRAL. "SITUATION ROOM," up next.

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