Texas Flooding: 67 Dead, Including 21 Children, Officials Provide Update

Devastating Flood Toll in Kerr County

• 💔 59 deceased have been confirmed in Kerr County, with 38 adults and 21 children among the victims.
• ⚠️ An additional 18 adults and four children are pending identification.
• 🏕️ At Camp Mystic, 11 campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for.

Ongoing Search and Rescue Efforts

• 🔍 Search operations are continuing with increased personnel navigating challenging shorelines.
• 🚁 The focus is on reuniting families with their loved ones, with efforts continuing until everyone is found.
• 🚫 Personal drones are a danger to aircraft and risk further operations; the public is urged to keep them out of the sky.

Community Support and Donations

• 📞 A dedicated call center for missing persons is available at (830) 258-1111.
• 🤝 For volunteers and donations, contact (830) 465-4794 or visit the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country portal.
• 🆘 The Kerrville branch of The Salvation Army is the official partner for volunteer coordination and in-kind donations, reachable at (830) 465-4797.

Official Response and Communication

• 📢 Officials emphasize unity and support for grieving families and those searching for lost loved ones.
• 💻 Updates are being provided via the City of Kerrville's Facebook page and the hashtag #kerrunited.
• ❓ Questions regarding the lack of earlier evacuation warnings are acknowledged but deferred to focus on current rescue efforts.

Weather and Drought Impact

• ⛈️ Showers and thunderstorms continue in the area, with a flood watch in effect.
• 🏜️ The region's prior severe drought meant the dry soil acted like concrete, preventing water absorption and exacerbating flooding.
• 🌊 Even a few inches of rain can cause standing water on arid land, and approximately a foot of rainfall over hours led to historic flooding.