161 people remain missing in Kerr County after flash floods.
A devastating flash flood has left 161 people unaccounted for in Kerr County, Texas, as recovery crews race against time four days after the disaster struck during Independence Day celebrations.
Governor Greg Abbott, speaking Tuesday, confirmed the grim toll: 109 people dead, with 94 fatalities in Kerrville alone. Among the missing are young campers and a counsellor from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp along the Guadalupe River, which has already confirmed 27 deaths among its staff and children.
“We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for.”
Governor Greg Abbott
The Texas National Guard, assisted by the FBI, Border Patrol, and volunteers, has launched one of the largest search missions in state history. The effort includes:13 Black Hawk helicopters (4 from Arkansas), Reaper drones scanning debris fields, over 250 ground personnelLimited cadaver dogs, and slowing searches in some areas
Volunteer searchers on the ground described heartbreaking scenes.
“This is a nightmare,” said Tim, a seasoned flood responder.
“It’s like trying to find a single hay in a haystack,” added Justin, referring to the scale of debris.
Although a storm alert had been issued, many are questioning why communities weren’t evacuated sooner. Governor Abbott denied government fault, saying the system didn’t anticipate a “30-foot tsunami wall of water.”
He brushed off criticism by saying:
“That’s the word choice of losers… You don’t win by pointing fingers.”
The situation has reignited debate over Trump-era budget cuts to weather agencies, which some experts believe may have impacted preparedness and early warning systems.
President Donald Trump is set to visit the flood-stricken areas this Friday alongside First Lady Melania Trump, a move likely to bring national spotlight and potentially emergency aid to the region.
In neighbouring New Mexico, flash floods have triggered a separate emergency. In Ruidoso, a 15-foot wave on the Rio Ruidoso swept through homes, prompting boat rescues and leaving some residents unaccounted for. The National Weather Service declared an emergency Tuesday night.
Survivors like Justin Brown, who lost his home at Blue Oak RV Park, reflected on the narrow escape:
“We were one of the few parks that got almost everybody out.”
With waters finally receding, families now face the pain of identifying the lost, finding shelter, and rebuilding their lives from the mud and rubble.
