Cowboys Pledge $500K to Support Texas Hill Country Communities After Flooding

As rescue teams continue to search for those missing from flooding that has devastated Texas, the Dallas Cowboys pledged $500,000 to support the ongoing efforts.

"Our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastation and loss of life caused by the flood in Kerr County and Texas Hill Country, especially for the young girls and their families, as well as all those lost and their loved ones," the team announced Sunday. 

"This has been devastating to see and we hold everyone impacted in our thoughts and prayers. Standing side by side with The Salvation Army's critical response, we are also donating $500,000 to provide immediate resources for rescue, relief and long term recovery efforts."

CNN reported that at least 51 people have died, including 15 children, from the flooding. What's more, rescue teams are searching for 27 children who are still missing from Camp Mystic, which is a girls' summer camp that was flooded.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said that more than 800 people have been rescued from the floodwaters. However, he also said "this is a death toll that continues to rise" in part because there were so many people along the Guadalupe River visiting for the July 4 weekend.

"We never give up on looking for someone. We've had storms in the past where people have gone down river 10, 15 miles, and you find them later and they've survived," Patrick said. "Those hours, of course, are getting long now."

The Associated Press reported that water rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes on Friday night, which led to washed away homes and cars. The rain continued over the weekend, making rescue all the more difficult with flash flood warnings still in place.

According to the AP, the flooding happening in the middle of the night also caught those in the camp and others by surprise. Helicopters, boats and drones have been used in the rescue efforts. 

The Cowboys are not the only NFL team helping the rescue efforts.

The Houston Texans also announced they were donating $500,000 to provide support:

"We are heartbroken by the loss and damage that our neighbors in the Texas Hill Country have endured," the McNair family, which owns the Texans, said.

"We are especially devastated to hear about the children who are still missing and we are praying they are reunited with their families soon. Our hearts will remain with everyone affected and in addition to our donation, we will continue to support the search, rescue and recovery efforts in the coming weeks."