Kerrville Flood Update: Officials Detail Rescue Efforts and Recovery Status

Flood Disaster Update and Statistics

• 💔 As of 8:00 a.m. on July 8th, there were 95 confirmed deceased in Kerr County, with 59 adults and 14 children unidentified.
• ⚠️ A total of 161 people were reported missing in the Kerr County area.
• 🏕️ Camp Mystic reported five missing campers and one counselor.

Challenges in the Texas Hill Country

• 🗺️ Kerr County's 00 square miles of complex hill country present challenges like rural areas with extended response times, spotty cell service, single-lane bridges, and low water crossings.
• 🏠 In some situations, sheltering in place was deemed safer than attempting evacuation.

Rescue and Recovery Operations

• 🚒 Over 2100 people were involved in the incident response across Kerr County, with an additional 2,000+ personnel assisting.
• 🚤 Coordinated efforts involved the Sheriff's Office, criminal investigation, special operations, Texas Game Wardens, DPS special agents, and volunteer fire departments.
• 🏗️ Heavy equipment, including excavators and skid loaders, is being used to search through debris along the river where large trees, vehicles, and home structures have bottlenecked.

Public Assistance and Information

• 📢 Community members are urged not to conduct debris management on their property until directed by law enforcement.
• 🔥 A no-burn ban is in effect for Kerr County until further notice.
• 💻 Those who have reported a loved one missing and they have returned safely are asked to notify authorities via kurvillemissing.dps.texas.gov or by calling 830-258-1111 to maintain an accurate count.
• ⚠️ Residents are asked to avoid areas where heavy equipment is working and to contact non-emergency numbers to have debris piles checked for victims before cleanup.

First Responder Heroism

• 🌊 On July 4th, officers responded to widespread flooding, rescuing people trapped on roofs and in swift-moving water, particularly in the Hunt area.
• 🚑 In Hunt, two officers and volunteer firefighters provided 13 hours of care, including first aid and coordinating helicopter evacuations for critically injured individuals.
• 🏠 Within the city limits of Kerrville, officers conducted door-to-door evacuations, rescuing over 200 people from homes and vehicles, with some officers wading through chest-deep water.
• ⚓ A dramatic rescue involved three officers entering water to save two people clinging to a tree, using a garden hose as an anchor.

Official Response and Future Review

• 🙏 Officials expressed gratitude to all first responders and helpers, highlighting the unified effort in the Emergency Operations Center.
• 🤝 Generosity from local companies like HB and James Avery Artisan Jewelry was acknowledged for their donations to the relief effort.
• 🔍 An after-action review will be conducted to address questions regarding the timeline of the Code Red alert system and preparedness measures.
• 🗣️ The Mayor emphasized focusing on the future and expressed gratitude for support from state officials for upcoming legislative sessions to address flood warning systems.