Texas Flood Recovery Update: Governor Abbott on Central Texas Storms and Disaster Response

Central Texas Flood Disaster

• ⚠️ Deadly storms have swept across central Texas, with a primary focus on Kerrville and surrounding areas, leading to significant loss of life and ongoing search operations.
• 💔 The immediate priority is supporting families affected by the tragedy, providing grief counseling and working 24/7 to identify and inform them about missing loved ones.
• 🌊 The Kerrville and Kerr County area reported 59 confirmed deceased and 11 missing from Camp Mystic, with additional fatalities and missing persons in the broader central Texas region.

Ongoing Search and Recovery Efforts

• 🔍 24/7 operations are underway with assets including the Department of Public Safety, National Guard, Texas Task Force, and game wardens to search for victims in the riverbed and affected areas.
• 🆘 A plea is made for relatives or friends of potential missing persons in Kerrville/Kerr County to contact local officials with specific information to aid the search process.
• 🏗️ Debris removal has begun in affected areas, with state and local governments working to clear roads and enable reconstruction, supported by a swift major disaster declaration from President Trump.

Public Safety and Future Warnings

• 🚨 Imminent threats include heavy rainfall expected over the next 24-48 hours, posing risks of flash flooding in regions like the Big Country, Concho Valley, Central Texas, and Kerrville.
• 🚗 A strong warning is issued to "turn around, don't drown", emphasizing the danger of driving through flooded roadways, as rising water can occur rapidly.
• 📢 The importance of receiving and acting on alert systems is highlighted, acknowledging challenges with cell coverage and the need for public preparedness plans.

Interagency and Federal Coordination

• 🤝 The Texas Military Department has deployed 230 personnel, eight helicopters, and high-profile vehicles for rescues and evacuations across multiple counties, including San Saba and Burnet.
• 🚁 Advanced aerial surveillance, including an MQ9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, is being used for persistent incident awareness and assessment operations.
• 🌊 The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is managing reservoir levels, having added significant water volume to lakes like Buchanan and Travis, and urging the public to stay off lakes due to debris.

Disaster Declaration and Future Preparedness

• 📜 A state disaster declaration includes numerous counties, while a federal disaster declaration currently focuses on Kerr County, with potential expansion based on ongoing assessments.
• 🗣️ Discussions are ongoing regarding the effectiveness of warning systems, the need for potential legislative action on disaster preparedness councils, and the specific challenges of communicating alerts in areas with limited cell service.
• 🏕️ The unique context of camps in the Kerrville area, some operating for nearly a century, is acknowledged, and their methods for dealing with warnings and water will be evaluated.