It’s hard to believe the devastation,' Trump said. 'Trees that are 100 years old just ripped out of the ground. I've never seen anything like this, and I've seen a lot of bad ones.'

The death toll now stands at 78 in the wake of torrential rains and the resulting flooding in Texas. By far the greatest number of fatalities occurred in Kerr County, where 68 people are believed to be dead, according to officials, including 28 children.

The president has defended his administration's response to the fatal flooding amid criticism that federal assistance could have been provided more quickly.

Hundreds gather at high school to honor the 120 dead while 170 still remain missing - More than 170 people still missing in Kerr County and Texas Governor Greg Abbott fears more could soon be ‘added t

In what experts call "Flash Flood Alley," the terrain reacts quickly to rainfall steep slopes, rocky ground, and narrow riverbeds leave little time for warning.

Heavy rain poured over the Texas Hill Country on Independence Day, with the flooding causing more than 100 deaths.Here's a timeline of the disaster:Tuesday, July 2On July 2, the Texas Division of Emergency Management said it activated "state emergency response resources in anticipation of increased threats of flooding in parts of West and Central Texas heading into the holiday weekend.

The National Weather Service's Wilmington, Ohio office has vacancies in 2 of 3 key leadership positions. What is being done to fill the office?

What were the National Weather Service forecasts? Why is it so hard to know where rain will fall? Did staff reductions at the weather service and other budget cuts by the Trump administration contribute to the catastrophe?