Report: Steelers’ Art Rooney II Helping Texas Flash Flood Victims

A report posted Tuesday on Facebook says Pittsburgh Steelers CEO Art Rooney II is coming to the aid of victims from Sunday’s flash floods in Texas.

According to a post by “Black and Gold Legend,” Rooney has “stepped in to pay funeral expenses and compensate the families of the victims.”

That post links to a story by sport247 which include more details. “According to sources close to the Rooney family, Art Rooney II was deeply moved upon hearing of the loss and devastation,” the report says.

“Despite having no direct ties to Texas, Rooney reportedly felt compelled to act, stating that ‘compassion shouldn’t be limited by geography’ and that ‘sports communities should stand together in times of human crisis.'”

Other professional sports organizations previously announced donations to help flood victims. CBS Sports reports the “Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and NFL Foundation were the first to announce their philanthropy and pooled together $500,000 apiece to provide both immediate assistance and long-term resources to the victims’ families and survivors.”

Also joining the efforts are the NBA, which is working with its Texas-based teams — the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs — as well as the NBA Players’ Association to donate more than $2 million.

CBS Sports also reports the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers have donated $1 million each.

Flash floods ravaged central Texas on Sunday, with some places seeing water levels on the Guadalupe River rise 26 feet in just 45 minutes. The Associated Press reports more than 100 people died in the catastrophe and more than 160 people are still missing.

Among the victims are at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp in Kerr County along the Guadalupe River. The AP reported Tuesday five campers and one counselor are still missing.

“Know this: We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for. Know this also: There very likely could be more added to that list,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference Tuesday.

Rescue crews are searching the area from airboats, helicopters and horseback in one of the biggest search operations ever launched by the state of Texas.

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