Central Texas Flood Update: Kerrville Police Department Briefing on Rescue and Recovery Efforts

Flood Response and Resources

• 🗺️ Over 2100 responders from state, local, and federal agencies are on the ground in Kerr County, with 10 states sending specially trained teams and two more en route.
• 🤝 The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house are committed to making the recovery a priority in an upcoming special legislative session.
• 🏛️ City and county leadership are committed to a transparent and full review of processes and protocols, with the special session serving as a starting point.

Latest Casualty and Missing Persons Report

• 💔 As of 8 a.m. this morning, there have been 96 confirmed deaths, including 60 adults and 36 children.
• ❓ The number of missing persons remains at 161, which includes five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic.
• 📞 Family members who reported a loved one missing and have since returned safely are asked to notify authorities via [email protected] or by calling 830-258-1111.

Disaster Assistance and Support

• ⛪ A disaster recovery center has been opened in Kerrville at the First Baptist Church (625 Washington Street) by the state of Texas, FEMA, and the Small Business Administration.
• ⏰ The center is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to assist those affected by the storms.
• 💸 The individual assistance program can provide financial support for medical and dental needs, vehicle damage, housing, childcare, and essential items.
• 🌐 Non-residents impacted by the floods can find assistance at disasterassistance.gov, via the FEMA app, or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Search and Recovery Efforts

• 🔍 The search and recovery mission is becoming more technical, with a focus on rescue and reunification.
• ❓ Information regarding the specific search area size, the extent of the searched area, and the exact mechanics of the grid system used for search and rescue recovery was not available.
• 🙏 The department expressed deep appreciation for the overwhelming support from people across Texas and the country.
• 🛠️ While many volunteers have offered equipment and services, the immediate focus is on certified professional search teams; a database of volunteers has been compiled for future needs.