Dozens of people are dead after heavy rain lashed Texas, leading to “catastrophic” flooding.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said emergency responders remained in a search and rescue posture, hours after the flooding along the Guadalupe River inundated nearby areas.
“So many people have been swept up into an extraordinary catastrophe,” Abbott said, asking for prayers for residents.
Children are among the dead, and about 23 campers from a summer camp in the area, Camp Mystic, were unaccounted for, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at an earlier news conference.
Latest Developments
Jul 6, 11:40 AM
President Trump signs “Major Disaster Declaration” for Kerr County, Texas
President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Sunday morning that he has signed a “Major Disaster Declaration” for Kerr County, Texas.
The declaration is “to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need,” the post said, in part.
“These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing. The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was on the ground yesterday with Governor Greg Abbott, who is working hard to help the people of his Great State,” Trump also wrote.
Jul 6, 11:21 AM
59 dead in Kerr County, including 21 children, sheriff says
Fifty-nine people are dead as a result of the flooding and torrential rains in Kerr County, Texas, Sheriff Larry Leitha said during a Sunday-morning press conference. That tally includes 38 adults and 21 children, Leitha said.
Leitha also said 11 campers and one counselor remained missing from Camp Mystic, located on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, Leitha said.
Jul 5, 7:12 PM
43 dead in Kerr County
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha provided an update on the flood damage in his area during a news conference and said the death toll rose to 43 people as of 7 p.m. ET.
“Among these who are deceased, we have 28 adults and 15 children,” he said.
Leitha said five children and 12 adults are pending identification.
“I assure you we’re going to do everything along with our partners, and we’ll be on this till we find the last body,” he said.
Jul 5, 4:47 PM
32 dead, including 14 children, in catastrophic flooding
At least 32 people are dead, including 14 children, Texas officials said Saturday. Officials are still searching for 27 people who are missing.
“My instruction to every state official involved is to assume everybody who is missing is alive, and there’s a need for speed. Not just every hour, every minute counts, which is why there’s people in the air, people in the water, people at the ground right now because they’re looking to save every last life and we will not give up that effort,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said at a press conference.
Search and rescue teams are continuing to search for live victims, officials said.
Jul 5, 4:33 PM
More than 850 people rescued in last 36 hours
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott commended rescue workers who have saved over 850 people in the last 36 hours, including people who were “clinging to trees to save their lives,” he said.
“What has happened over the past 36 hours is really amazing when you look at what the local officials have done, working and collaborating with multiple state agencies as well as our federal partners,” Abbott said.
Jul 5, 4:27 PM
Abbott signs expanded disaster declaration adding more counties impacted by flooding
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an expanded emergency declaration that added Texas counties impacted by the disastrous flooding. The new declaration now includes Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson counties, Abbott said at a press conference Saturday afternoon.
“We will be relentless and 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,” Abbott said.
Abbott also signed a request for a federal emergency declaration.
“Know that President Trump is absolutely heartbroken by what has happened here in Texas, and the loss of life is absolutely devastating to him and Melania,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said at the press conference.
Jul 5, 3:51 PM
Dangerous flash flood threat persists in central Texas
Areas of heavy rain and the threat of dangerous flash flooding continues to impact parts of central Texas Saturday afternoon as the area recovers from Friday morning’s deadly flash flooding along the Guadalupe River.
For the second night in a row, another significant and dangerous flash flood event unfolded in the region. This time, about 100 miles northeast from yesterday’s catastrophic event.
A Flash Flood Emergency continues for much of Burnet County, Texas, as well as western parts of Williamson and Travis Counties until 4 p.m. CT.
Up to a foot of rain has fallen in this area triggering major flash flooding. There have been reports of numerous road closures in the area, according to the National Weather Service.
The flash flood threat will finally diminish Saturday night with all Flood Watches expiring between 7 to 10 p.m. CT, depending on location.
Jul 5, 3:31 PM
‘We didn’t know this flood was coming,’ official says
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly was pressed by a reporter as to why evacuations didn’t take place Thursday, but the judge said, “We didn’t know this flood was coming.” Officials said the county does not have a warning system on the river.
“We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States, and we deal with floods on a regular basis. When it rains, we get water. We had no reason to believe that this was going to be anything like what’s happened here, none whatsoever,” he said.
Rain continued to hit the region Saturday, prompting flash flood emergency warnings for much of Burnet County and western parts of Williamson County and Travis County.
Jul 5, 11:44 AM
Trump says his administration is working with Texas officials in response to the flooding
President Donald Trump said his administration is working with state and local officials in Texas in response to the flooding that occurred on Friday, he said in a post on social media.
Trump also said that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem will arrive in Texas on Saturday in response to the flooding.
“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best,” Trump said.
-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie
Jul 5, 11:24 AM
27 people dead, including 9 children
At least 27 people are dead, including nine children, after heavy rain caused catastrophic flooding in Texas.
Officials are still searching for 24 girls missing from Camp Mystic, an all girls camp along the Guadalupe River, Dalton Rice, manager of the city of Kerrville, Texas, said at a press conference Saturday.
While search and rescue operations remain ongoing, officials said they do not have an accurate count of how many people are missing and said they would not provide an estimate.
Rice said rescues are occurring from camps that were isolated because of road damage.
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