At least 120 dead in Texas Hill Country floods, more than 160 still missing

HOUSTON, Texas – The death toll from the catastrophic Texas Hill Country floods has climbed to at least 120 people across six counties, with Kerr County suffering the greatest loss.

At least 15 victims are from the Greater Houston area.


Thursday, July 10 updates

Kerr County officials held their morning news conference, providing updates to the public. Unlike the other news conference, this one was short and to the point, only leaving room to answer about three to four reporter questions at the end.

Kerr County officials confirmed that there are currently 96 deaths in their area, 60 adults and 36 children, with 161 still missing, including five campers from Camp Mystic and one counselor.

Officials said more than 2,100 first responders are currently on the ground from 10 different states, with more en route, searching the area for the missing.

If you have reported anyone missing, and they’ve since returned safely, officers are asking for you to notify them at kerrvillemissing@dps.texas.gov or call 830-258-1111.

Also, FEMA has since opened a disaster recovery center in Kerrville for people who have been affected. The recovery center, located at 625 Washington Street, will be open every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, July 9 updates

Kerr County officials now confirm 59 adults are dead, with 14 still unidentified. 36 children are confirmed dead, and 13 remain unidentified. Five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic are still missing. The number of missing people countywide stands at 161.

Rescue teams, including local deputies, DPS agents, and even a fire department from Acuña, Mexico, continue combing heavily impacted debris fields along the Guadalupe River. Officials ask the public to avoid active work zones for safety.

Residents are urged not to begin debris removal on private property until given clearance, as search teams still need to check piles for possible victims. A countywide burn ban remains in effect.

Families who’ve reported missing loved ones are reminded to contact authorities immediately if those individuals have been located, to help maintain an accurate count. Kerr County spans 1,100 square miles of difficult, rural terrain, complicating search and recovery efforts.

Sheriff Larry Leitha stressed that the county’s response will be reviewed and improved where necessary. The emergency operation involves over 2,100 personnel currently working in the field.

KPRC 2, KSAT 12, Graham Media Group, and Gray Media have joined forces to launch Together for Texas, an emergency donation drive supporting flood relief efforts in Central Texas. All donations go directly to The Salvation Army to provide critical aid such as meals, shelter, and supplies to communities impacted by the devastating Fourth of July floods. To contribute, visit www.togetherfortx.com.


Tuesday, July 8 updates

Texas Governor Greg Abbott visited the Hill Country flood zones.

Kerr County officials provided an update on the flooding aftermath and ongoing search and rescue operations at 10 a.m. where they confirmed the deaths of 56 adults and 30 children following the catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country. Authorities say 19 adults, 7 children, and 1 additional person remain unidentified at this time.

Search and rescue efforts are still underway, with 5 campers and 1 counselor from Camp Mystic unaccounted for. Crews continue to work along waterways and debris fields across the region as the death toll rises.


Monday afternoon update

Governor Greg Abbott says more than 1,700 state personnel remain on the ground assisting with rescue, recovery, and cleanup operations in the devastated communities.

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office provided an update on social media on the ongoing recovery efforts.

According to the sheriff’s office, as of 2 p.m., Crews have recovered the bodies of 84 people in Kerr County, including 56 adults and 28 children. Identification is pending for 22 adults and 10 children. At present, 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for.

 

The sheriff’s office also asked private boat owners to stay off the Guadalupe River and its tributaries at this time to allow search and rescue teams to operate without interference.

Authorities say the identities of 15 additional adults and 9 children are still pending as recovery efforts continue across the region.

Monday, July 7 updates

Kerr County officials provided an update on the flooding aftermath and ongoing recovery efforts this morning.

Rescue crews remain focused on locating the 10 missing campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic, as well as addressing reports of additional missing persons along the Guadalupe River.

Search operations are active along a 100-kilometer stretch from Hunt in Kerr County to Canyon Lake in Comal County. Teams are working in gridded search zones using boats, ground crews, K-9 units, drones, and helicopters. Officials say challenging terrain, fast-moving water, and storm debris are complicating the search.

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice acknowledged the challenges emergency crews faced communicating in rural parts of the county.

“We know there are a lot of questions about communication, cell service, and emergency alerts,” Rice said. “This is a massive area with tough terrain and spotty service. Those are things we need to take a hard look at moving forward.”

The Kerrville Public Utility Board reports widespread power outages between Hunt and Ingram, with more than 40 downed power lines and multiple substations damaged. There is no estimated time for full restoration.

“This will be a rough week. Primary search continues and we remain hopeful,” Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring said. “Every foot, every mile, every bend of the river, our work continues.”

Authorities are asking volunteers to register through the Kerrville Salvation Army by calling 830-465-4797 or visiting 855 Hayes Street.

Monetary donations can be made online through the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country at communityfoundation.net, where a dedicated Kerr County Relief Fund is active.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz addressed the emotional toll of the disaster, calling the deaths of children at Camp Mystic “every parent’s nightmare” and praising the courage of first responders and community volunteers.

“Texas is grieving right now,” Cruz said. “The pain and shock of what has transpired these last few days has broken the heart of our state.”


Sunday, July 6 updates

The remaining 13 victims are spread across nearby counties: three in Burnet, one in Tom Green, five in Travis, two in Kendall, and two in Williamson. Additionally, 10 children and one counselor from Camp Mystic remain unaccounted for at this time.

Kerr County officials held a press conference Sunday afternoon to provide the latest updates on the deadly Texas Hill Country floods. Leaders confirmed search and recovery operations remain ongoing, with rising water levels still posing a threat in parts of the region.

In Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and several other youth camps in the Texas Hill Country, search crews have recovered the bodies of 68 people, including 28 children, according to Sheriff Larry Leitha.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Ingram and areas just north of Kerrville, in effect until 6:30 p.m. Officials warn that rising water from nearby tributaries could cause a rapid 2-foot surge along the Guadalupe River. Residents in low-lying areas are urged to move to higher ground immediately.

During a 3 p.m. press conference, TDEM Chief Nim Kidd emphasized that life safety remains the top priority amid the ongoing disaster response in Kerr County.

Chief Kidd stressed that search efforts for missing persons continue vigorously alongside the start of recovery operations such as debris removal and road clearing. He urged the public to avoid conflating “recovery” with the end of rescue work, noting that search for survivors is still very active.

Due to recent reports of a potential “wall of water” or flash flooding in some creeks feeding into the Guadalupe River, residents and visitors unfamiliar with the area are urged to stay away from low-lying crossings and flood zones for their safety.

Chief Kidd also addressed concerns from spontaneous volunteers, explaining that while their help is appreciated, all volunteers must register with official response teams to ensure coordination and safety. Unauthorized volunteers in evacuation zones could jeopardize rescue operations.

Officials warned that heavy rainfall is expected over the next 24 to 48 hours in Central Texas and surrounding areas, increasing the risk of flash flooding. Residents are strongly advised to avoid driving through flooded roadways, following the “Turn around, don’t drown” safety message.

Public safety remains the top priority as search and rescue teams continue working to save lives and assist affected communities.

President Donald Trump has signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, Texas. This action unlocks federal resources and support for local first responders as they continue search, rescue, and recovery efforts.

During an update to the public on Sunday morning, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said more than 400 first responders from over 20 agencies are working to find the 11 children and the counselor who are still considered missing from Camp Mystic.

Saturday, July 5 updates

On Saturday afternoon, we heard from Texas leaders, including Governor Greg Abbott, on just how dire the situation is. In 36 hours, Abbott said more than 850 people have been rescued or recovered.

“This community over the past 24 hours is what I call quintessential Texas. When Texans face a challenge, we come together. We unite,” Abbott said.

Abbott said the ongoing priority is to find every person affected by the flooding, and as of Saturday afternoon, 27 people were still confirmed missing.

“We will be relentless in going after and ensuring that we locate every single person who’s been a victim of this flooding event. We’re not going to stop today or tomorrow. We will stop when the job is completed.”

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem spoke about President Trump’s response, saying, “President Trump is absolutely heartbroken by what has happened here in Texas and the loss of life is absolutely devastating to him and Melania.” She added, “He is absolutely committed to using all the resources of the federal government to help unify families, rescue all those that we are still missing and return those who maybe we will recover back to their family as soon as possible.”

Local emergency responders, including several Houston-area agencies, have been working closely with state and federal teams to help find the missing people.

“Our state assets and local partners are continuing to search for live victims. Life safety continues to be our number one priority. We will continue the search until all those that are missing are found,” said Nim Kidd, head of the Texas Department of Emergency Management.

Kerr County Judge Kelly addressed the shift from rescue to recovery, stating, “The rescue has gone as well as can be expected. He’s getting time now for the recovery, and that’s going to be a long... Toilsome task for us. And what I would reiterate that I’ve heard others say is as long as we stay together, we’ll get this done.”

Kerrville Mayor Herrick asked for public support and prayers: “Rescue those in peril and we will find those who are lost. I continue to ask everyone who sees this day to pray for Kerrville and Kerr County.”

Search efforts continue around the clock, including the use of helicopters equipped with thermal imaging to locate missing individuals.


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