Number missing in Texas floods drops from 97 to 3, officials say

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5 days ago

The number of people thought to be missing in the devastating floods in Kerr County, Texas, over the Fourth of July holiday weekend has been revised down from at least 97 to three, officials announced July 19.
The city of Kerrville, Texas, said the Kerr County Flood Disaster Joint Information Center confirmed that "through extensive follow-up work among state and local agencies, many individuals who were initially reported as missing have been verified as safe and removed from the list."
'We are profoundly grateful to the more than 1,000 local, state, and federal authorities who have worked tirelessly in the wake of the devastating flood that struck our community,' Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said.
On July 15, Gov. Greg Abbott said 97 people were still listed as missing in the greater Kerrville area, down from 160-plus about a week ago.
'This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time,' Rice said.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly thanked law enforcement and others who helped verify the number missing. 'Your dedication, professionalism, and compassion have brought comfort and answers to so many."
Kelly had said earlier that a large percentage of those unaccounted for were probably visiting the area. He said many tourists had come for the Independence Day weekend fireworks and concert. Historic flooding overwhelmed the banks of the Guadalupe River in the predawn hours of July 4.
Recovery operations are continuing to search for those still missing. As of July 17, Abbott said, the death toll stood at 135 statewide, with 116 from Kerr County perishing in the floods.
Contributing: John Bacon
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Number missing in Texas floods July 4 drops to 3 as officials cut list
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