Kerr County Officials Provide Update on Deadly Hill Country Flooding

Flood Recovery Efforts and Statistics

• 📌 As of 5:30 PM, 43 deceased individuals have been recovered in Kerr County, including 28 adults and 15 children.
• ⚠️ 12 adults and 5 children are currently pending identification.
• 📞 A missing person's call center is available at 830-258-1111, and reports can also be submitted via email to floodrecovery@co. Kerr.tx.us.
• 🤝 Assistance is being received from local, state, and federal agencies, with assurances of necessary resources.

Search and Rescue Operations

• 🚒 Hundreds of first responders are actively engaged in search and rescue operations.
• 🗺️ Aerial and ground searches have covered a 100-meter distance on either side of the Guadalupe River from Camp Mystic through Hunt and Ingram.
• 🔍 Operations are ongoing within the city of Kerrville along the riverbanks.
• 🚨 The priority remains life safety and the search and rescue of every involved person.

Infrastructure and Utilities Update

• 💧 Water supply is stable, with identified leaks isolated. The city will likely operate on well water for approximately 4 weeks due to potential surface water contamination.
• ⚡ KUB reports approximately 600 customers still without power, primarily west of Ingram and south of Highway 39. Restoration in these areas is expected to be lengthy.
• 🚧 Extensive storm damage, including downed power poles and debris, has impacted infrastructure, particularly in the Hunt and South Fork areas.

Community and Safety Guidance

• 🏠 Residents are advised to focus on local cleanup by picking up debris in their immediate areas and staying out of major affected zones due to hazardous conditions.
• ⚠️ Public works and emergency services emphasize that conditions remain very dangerous.

Understanding the Event's Speed and Impact

• 🌊 The flood event occurred rapidly, with river levels rising over 20-30 feet in less than two hours on a holiday morning, leaving little time for evacuation warnings.
• 🎯 The flooding has impacted areas within a 100-year flood plain, with water from the North and South Forks converging and rising exceptionally quickly.
• ❓ The rapid rise and intensity of the flood are attributed to a combination of factors, including unexpected rainfall amounts significantly exceeding predictions.