The search crew continued their tough job of recovering missing people as more flash floods threaten Texas Hill Country.
More than a week after the flooded Guadalupe River sent floods ripping up Texas homes and youth camps, optimism to rescue dozens of people still missing from Hill Country on Saturday has steadily declined as deaths continued to rise.
Hundreds of rescuers, many of them volunteers, have scrutinized miles of destruction due to signs of missing. But they have not rescued any living people since July 4th, the day of the flood, said Carr County officials, which had the most violent hit. Approximately 160 people are missing in the county alone.
As of the morning of July 12, the death toll had risen to at least 129, with authorities in Kerr and Travis County reporting more bodies had recovered. Kerr County tolls have risen to at least 103 people, according to the county’s Joint Information Center. In Travis County, tolls have risen from eight to nine, spokesman Hector Nieto confirmed with USA Today. Officials previously said at least 27 campers and counselors, Camp Mystic counselor and beloved All Girls Christian Camp, is among the dead.
“I’ve never seen anything like this and I’ve seen a lot of bad things,” President Donald Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump investigated the damage on Friday. “It’s hard to believe in devastation.”
Texas officials, including the governor, have pledged that the crew will not stop searching until all missing persons have been explained. Dozens of people remained missing in Hill County, with the majority being lost from Kerr County. Experts say the number of people reported missing after a disaster is often bulging.
Approximately 170 people are believed to be missing, including 161 missing in Kerr County. Other counties have reported several missing parts, including one of Burnet County: Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Phillips.
Phillips was last seen a week ago as he had responded to a rescue call before he and his car were swept away into the raging seas. The vehicle was located, but Phillips was not inside.
“The specialist team and equipment will continue to be deployed in search areas and will continue to work until dusk in difficulties or efforts to find him,” the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday.
The hard-hit Texas Hill Country will have a flood clock until the evening of July 13th, according to the office of the National Weather Service, which serves Austin and San Antonio.
There could be 1-3 inches of rain, nearly 6 inches of isolation in the area, and the X-Post on the morning of July 12th could cause dangerous lowland flash floods, including rivers, streams and other low-water intersections.
Officials said the clock includes the southern Edwards Plateau, which includes Carr County, along 35 interstate corridors between Austin and San Antonio. The clock is valid until 7pm on July 13th.
More than 19 million people were under flood monitoring in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico on July 12, according to the National Weather Service.
The Weather Services Office, serving Austin and San Antonio, warned of possible local heavy rain and flash floods in the hard hit area of Texas Hill Country until July 13th.
“Local heavy rain on already saturated ground can cause flash floods this weekend,” the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
– Dinna Boyles Pulver
From the Arkansan Black Hawk Helicopter to the Wisconsin K-9 team, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott thanked the state for helping in response to the flooding of Hill Country.
Efforts following the fatal flood required numerous resources to help people search for missing people.
“Our ongoing recovery operations are being supported by the support of other states,” Abbott posted on X on July 12th.
Abbott also thanked us for providing resources for California, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Virginia. Support also included rapid water bodies and drones to assist Texas officials.
The family of Camp Mystic counselor Katherine Ferzzo, who remained among the missing people last week, said her body was found Friday.
Ferzzo recently graduated from Memorial High School in Houston and headed to the University of Texas at Austin in the fall. She had planned to become a special education teacher, the family said in a statement Saturday.
“We are extremely grateful to all the search and rescue specialists and volunteers who are working hard in their efforts to find victims of this tragedy, and we would especially like to thank the Texas Rangers,” the family said in a statement provided by spokesman Page Donnell.
Dozens of Camp Mystic children and staff were among the deaths, authorities said. The nearly one-century camp in Hunt, Texas is one of several along the Guadalupe River and saw some of the worst floods on July 4th. Hannah and Rebecca Lawrence, 14; Chloe Childress Counselor, 19;
“Katherine has a fierce, loving spirit and we are certain she did everything she could to save the girl’s life in her shed,” her family said in a previous statement.
Kerrville officials said Saturday that the overwhelming response from community members, both near and far, was probably too generous. The Kerrville Police Station said that so many people brought food for its staff, some of which went into waste. All needs, including food, are caring for, the police department said.
The police department also asked local law enforcement officers to stop not appearing without seeking assistance as they coordinate with the agency to assign officers to specific tasks.
On Friday, the city of Kerrville asked volunteers to stop supporting them as their most urgent needs are being handled by first responders and families in the flood-affected community.
“Your generosity and support means more than words can express,” the city said. “Don’t lose your mind – you need your help. As days and weeks unfold, there are many opportunities to help our neighbors. We promise to share updates as certain volunteer needs arise.”
More than ten months after Hurricane Helen created the floods that tore western North Carolina last year, the remains of Lisa Gindinova’s three-year-old cousin Yefeni Segen and grandmother Tatiana Novitonia have yet to be found. The two are tackling the fact that the floods wipe out and the family may never be seen again.
“It’s not the real thing,” Gindinova told USA Today.
Texas families are beginning to face the same unforgettable realization after the flash flood of a deadly hill country as volunteers continue to scrutinise the area for their disappearance.
Just like the North Carolina floods last year, Texas floods left piles of debris. A pile of crushed trailers and cars, stacks of down Cypress trees, and hardened mud walls make recovery difficult. The amount of shards and destruction left the tough tasks slow and taxed.
Troy Tillman, 34, a sheriff detective from just outside Lubbock, Texas, explained that he had found a Ford F-250 pickup. If such a three-ton truck is buried, what else can Tillman be buried at his feet?
read more.
– Rick Jervis and Christopher Cann
Volunteers were hoping to help with recovery on Saturday
Kerr County said it expects a number of “voluntary volunteers” to support Saturday’s recovery efforts. Volunteers are an important part of the search and rescue days since the flood, and authorities are sometimes asking them to stay volunteering, allowing qualified personnel to do some of the tough work.
Volunteers will be asked to register for the recovery of the Texas Community and check in at Tiby Antler Stadium in Kerrville before participating in the safety briefing.
Authorities continue to address issues of responsibility
Texas officials are faced with unforgiving questions about what could have been done to prevent high deaths and short warning times in the Hill Country flood. In Kerr County, Sheriff Larry Lasa said it focuses on the top priorities of finding missing people and identifying each victim found, rather than dodging questions.
Trump on Friday rejected concerns about whether communities along the Guadalupe River were properly prepared for disasters.
“I think everyone did an incredible job under that situation,” Trump said. “Only a very evil person will ask such a question.”
Earlier in the week, Gov. Greg Abbott said that “condemnation” was “a choice of the loser’s words.”
Are there more floods along the way?
As cleaning and recovery continues in Texas Hill Country, a new threat of flash floods is set for the weekend, predictors said. The scattered showers are expected to develop Saturday afternoons and evenings in southern Texas, including some of the already flooded areas. Heavy rain can quickly escape wet ground, predictors said.
In Kerrville, there is about a 35% chance of rain coming through Sunday morning, the weather department that serves Austin and San Antonio said.
“The expected total of torrential rainfall and already sensitive, wet advance conditions could be scattered across a large number of potential examples of flash floods,” the National Weather Service said.
Abbott stimulated emergency response resources in Texas’ emergency management department on Friday in response to forecasts.
More than 13.5 million people were monitoring the flood clock on Saturday morning from the National Weather Service in countries in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
How many people have died in the floods in Texas?
County officials say the following are the breakdowns in flood deaths in Texas:
- Carr County: 103
- Travis County: 9
- Kendall County: 8
- Burnet County: 5
- Williamson County: 3
- Tom Green County: 1
Contributors: Christopher Kang, Joey Garrison, Burt Janssen, Carissa Waddick, Michael Loria, USA Today. Reuters
