Latest news with #KerrvilleCity
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Number of missing in Texas floods dramatically drops to 3
(NewsNation) — The number of missing people in the central Texas area swept by July 4 flash floods has dramatically dropped from 160 to three, officials announced Saturday evening. The Kerr County Flood Disaster Joint Information Center credited 'extensive follow-up work' by state and local agencies for verifying that dozens of people who had been reported as missing in the hard-hit county are now categorized as 'safe and removed from the list.' How to help Texas flooding survivors '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 in a prepared statement. 'Thanks to their extraordinary efforts, the number of individuals previously listed as missing has dropped from over 160 to three.' Torrential rains that struck Texas Hill Country early on July 4 overwhelmed the Guadalupe River, which rapidly rose more than 20 feet and swept onto lower ground. The flooding stormed all-girls Camp Mystic, where at least 27 campers and counselors perished, in Kerr County. The total number of people who died across a multi-county region is at least 135. It was not immediately known how many people are unaccounted for in counties other than Kerr, but recent media reports have suggested single digits, at most. Kerr County officials did not offer details about the three people who are still considered unaccounted for in their jurisdiction. 'Our thoughts remain with the families still awaiting news, and we will continue to stand with them as efforts persist,' Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
3 people are still missing from deadly July 4 floods in Texas county, down from nearly 100
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Officials in a Texas hill country community pummeled by deadly flooding July 4 said Saturday that just three people remain missing, down from nearly 100, after people who had previously been reported missing have since been accounted for. The reduction in the number of people on the missing list came as the search for victims entered its third week. It was a significant drop from the more than 160 people officials previously said were unaccounted for in Kerr County alone. '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,' Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice in a statement. The death toll in Kerr County, 107, held steady for much of this week even as the intensive search continued. The Flash floods killed at least 135 people in Texas over the holiday weekend, with most deaths along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio. Just before daybreak on July 4, the destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the Guadalupe, washing away homes and vehicles. The floods laid waste to the Hill Country, a popular tourist destination where campers seek out spots along the river amid the rolling landscape. It is naturally prone to flash flooding because its dry, dirt-packed soil cannot soak up heavy rain. Vacation cabins, youth camps campgrounds fill the riverbanks and hills of Kerr County, including Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian summer camp for girls. Located in a low-lying area of a region known as 'flash flood alley,' Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and counselors. The flooding was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, experts said, and it moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system. In Kerrville, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Austin, local officials have come under scrutiny over whether residents were adequately warned about the rising waters. President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have pushed back aggressively against questions about how well local authorities responded to forecasts of heavy rain and the first reports of flash flooding. Crews have been searching for victims using helicopters, boats and drones. Earlier efforts were hampered by rain forecasts, leading some crews to hold off or stop because of worries about more flooding.
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The Independent
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Number of missing in devastating Kerr County flash floods drops to just 3
Texas officials now say that just three people remain missing in the devastating floods that struck the state's Kerr County, killing at least 135 people. The new total of those still missing in the county from the shocking July 4 weekend flooding was revised down from 97 people on Saturday. '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,' the City of Kerrville said in a statement. The massive loss of life took place when the deadly floods took place in Texas Hill Country, with most of the deaths taking place along the Guadalupe River, around 60 miles north of San Antonio. The torrential rain saw the river swell from 3ft to 30ft in just 45 minutes, with many cabins in the area swept away. Among the dead were 27 campers and counselors at the century-old Christian summer camp for girls, Camp Mystic. In total, at least 107 people died in Kern County, 37 of whom were children. Officials said on Saturday that recovery operations would continue throughout the Guadalupe River watershed. '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. 'Thanks to their extraordinary efforts, the number of individuals previously listed as missing has dropped from over 160 to three.' CNN reported that one person remains missing in Travis County, 150 miles away, and another in Burnett County.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Texas officials revise number of people missing in Kerr County following catastrophic flooding down to 3
Texas officials have revised the number of people missing in the catastrophic floods in Kerr County, Texas, from 97 people down to three on Saturday. '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,' the City of Kerrville said in a news release. The historic flooding event killed at least 135 people in the state over the July 4 weekend and kicked off a massive search through mud and debris for those unaccounted for along the Guadalupe River in central Texas. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had said Monday that the flooding left 101 people missing statewide, including 97 people in Kerr County. Authorities would continue to search for those missing and identify the victims, Abbott said, advising it can take a few days and suggesting that number could be revised down. Officials said Saturday recovery operations will continue throughout the Guadalupe River watershed for those still missing. '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. 'Thanks to their extraordinary efforts, the number of individuals previously listed as missing has dropped from over 160 to three.' One person remains missing about 150 miles away in Travis County and another is missing in Burnet County, officials told CNN Saturday. The updated count in Kerr County comes about two weeks after torrential downpours in the overnight hours of July 4 transformed the Guadalupe River into a roaring flood, sweeping away homes, vehicles, roads and trees. At least 107 people in Kerr County alone died, including 37 children, and at least 161 others in the county were initially reported missing. The disaster has led to serious questions about how local officials prepared for the possibility of flooding in the months and years beforehand, how they acted as the Guadalupe River swelled from 3 feet to 30 feet in just 45 minutes on July 4, and how officials have responded in its destructive aftermath. At a Kerr County commissioners meeting Monday, Sheriff Larry Leitha said his office's search and recovery efforts will 'go strong for another month or two,' and could last up to six months. The sheriff's office said 2,200 people from multiple agencies have been deployed to assist in the recovery efforts. The search included 60 miles of river, murky waters, thick mud and seemingly insurmountable piles of debris. A small army of searchers from across the US and even Mexico have worked through perilous terrain – aided by helicopters, drones and boats, as well as dogs and mules. More than 1,000 first responders and thousands of volunteers were involved in the response, Kerr County Emergency Operations Center Unified Command said Saturday. The people who were listed as missing are not campers or local residents, but tourists who came in for the holiday – and officials didn't know how many were lost, County Judge Rob Kelly said earlier this week. Kerr County is expected to host a meeting Tuesday for those in the area impacted by the flood. What happened July Fourth weekend Months' worth of torrential rain fell in the span of just hours, sending river levels surging and triggering deadly flash flooding in western and central Texas on July Fourth weekend. For many families, the gravest warnings about the deadly weather in Texas Hill Country arrived too late. Some were asleep, while others — used to extreme weather in the region — remained awake, listening to heavy downpours and thunder that rattled their homes. At Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp, 27 campers and counselors were killed by the raging waters. The camp is located along the Guadalupe River's floodplain – which rose more than 20 feet in less than two hours overnight into the July Fourth holiday. Abbott has emphasized the unprecedented scale of the flooding and highlighted the coordinated response between state, local and federal agencies in ongoing recovery and relief efforts. 'I think it's the largest flood in the history of Texas, and more people lost their lives in Kerrville than those who lost their lives in Hurricane Harvey just to understand the magnitude of it,' Abbott said at a Thursday news conference. Now that the storm has passed, Abbott said, housing has become a major concern and the disaster recovery center is working to address those needs. 'That's another thing that we will talk about in the course of the special session that's upcoming,' Abbott added. The governor issued a proclamation for the July 21 Texas special legislative session to address flood warning systems, emergency communications and relief funding for victims. Some of the special session agenda items include legislation aimed at strengthening communications — specifically in flood-prone areas across the state — as well as 'legislation to evaluate and streamline rules and regulations to speed preparedness for and recovery from natural disasters,' according to the statement. This story has been updated with additional information. CNN's Leigh Waldman, Eric Levenson and Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.
CNN
3 days ago
- CNN
Texas officials revise number of people missing in Kerr County following catastrophic flooding down to 3
Texas officials have revised the number of people missing in the catastrophic floods in Kerr County, Texas, from 97 people down to three on Saturday. '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,' the City of Kerrville said in a news release. The historic flooding event killed at least 135 people in the state over the July 4 weekend and kicked off a massive search through mud and debris for those unaccounted for along the Guadalupe River in central Texas. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday that the flooding left 101 people missing statewide, including 97 people in Kerr County. Authorities would continue to search for those missing and identify the victims, Abbott said, advising it can take a few days and suggesting that number could be revised down. Officials said Saturday recovery operations will continue throughout the Guadalupe River watershed for those still missing. '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. 'Thanks to their extraordinary efforts, the number of individuals previously listed as missing has dropped from over 160 to three.' The updated count comes about two weeks after torrential downpours in the overnight hours of July 4 transformed the Guadalupe River into a roaring flood, sweeping away homes, vehicles, roads and trees. At least 107 people in Kerr County alone died, including 37 children, and at least 161 others in the county were initially reported missing. The disaster has led to serious questions about how local officials prepared for the possibility of flooding in the months and years beforehand, how they acted as the Guadalupe River swelled from 3 feet to 30 feet in just 45 minutes on July 4, and how officials have responded in its destructive aftermath. At a Kerr County commissioners meeting Monday, Sheriff Larry Leitha said his office's search and recovery efforts will 'go strong for another month or two,' and could last up to six months. The sheriff's office said 2,200 people from multiple agencies have been deployed to assist in the recovery efforts. The search included 60 miles of river, murky waters, thick mud and seemingly insurmountable piles of debris. A small army of searchers from across the US and even Mexico have worked through perilous terrain – aided by helicopters, drones and boats, as well as dogs and mules. More than 1,000 first responders and thousands of volunteers were involved in the response, Kerr County Emergency Operations Center Unified Command said Saturday. The people who were listed as missing are not campers or local residents, but tourists who came in for the holiday – and officials didn't know how many were lost, County Judge Rob Kelly said earlier this week. Kerr County is expected to host a meeting Tuesday for those in the area impacted by the flood. This is a developing story and will be updated. CNN's Leigh Waldman, Michelle Watson, Eric Levenson and Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.
