Gov. Glenn Youngkin said his wife, Suzanne Youngkin, and other family members and friends were rescued from their property near Texas’ Guadalupe River during the deadly July 4 flooding. The governor was in Virginia at the time.
The Texas flooding has killed more than 100 people, AP reports. And Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says more than 160 people are still believed to be missing.
Younkin Family Rescue
Youngkin told reporters at NBC affiliate WWBT that his family was evacuated by swift water rescue crews and the Texas National Guard. “My family was there, along with friends, and by the grace of God, my family was safe,” Youngkin said. “I have to say there was moments when they weren’t. They ended up being safe during the day.”
Youngkin flew to Texas later in the day on July 4. He said Texas officials asked him if he wanted his family to be airlifted out, but he declined. “I said no. I’ve talked to them, my family is safe, please go rescue these young campers from these places, and when everyone else has been attended to, like other people that are safe but stranded, we will deal with my family.”
Suzanne Younkin’s Ties to Texas
The governor said his wife is from Texas, and her family has generational connections to that area. “These people are family to us, deep relationships and therefore what happened in the wee hours of the morning on Friday has been devastating,” Youngkin said. “The loss of life is just shocking.”
Younkin’s family visits their Texas property a few times a year. Suzanne attended Camp Arrowhead on the property while growing up and has worked to restore the onsite facilities for the family’s recreational use, The Washington Post reported. At least 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, also located in the area, died during the flooding.
Youngkin Deploys Virginia Rescue Teams
On July 6, Youngkin announced that he was sending two Virginia Type III Swift Water Rescue Teams to Texas to assist with recovery efforts. The teams are based in Bristol and Virginia Beach.
“Our hearts go out to the families and communities in Texas who have been devastated by these historic floods,” the governor 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.”
Feature image of Youngkin with his wife, Suzanne, and their four children on inauguration day in January 2022 courtesy Youngkin Family
