KERRVILLE, Texas. Search and rescue teams continued scouring mud-soaked riverbanks and flying surveillance aircraft over flood-ravaged central Texas on Monday, as the official death toll from Friday’s devastating flash floods rose to 78, with dozens still missing.
The hardest-hit area is Kerrville, a town along the Guadalupe River, which was turned into a deadly torrent by torrential rains that fell before dawn on July 4. Kerr County alone accounted for 68 fatalities, including 28 children, according to Sheriff Larry Leitha. Among the dead were individuals at Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian summer camp for girls, where dozens were initially reported missing.
As of Sunday, 10 girls and one camp counselor remained unaccounted for. State officials also confirmed 10 additional flood-related deaths across Burnet, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties, with 41 people still listed as missing beyond Kerr County.
Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, warned that the death toll would likely increase as waters recede and searches intensify. “It’s hot, there’s mud, they’re moving debris, there’s snakes,” Martin said, describing the hazardous conditions faced by hundreds of emergency responders.
A total of more than 850 people have been rescued since Friday, some found clinging to trees. Search teams are using eight helicopters and a remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper drone equipped with surveillance sensors to cover the devastated terrain.
According to Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, rainfall totals exceeded predictions from the National Weather Service, with up to 15 inches (38 cm) falling on two branches of the Guadalupe River. The resulting surge overwhelmed the single river channel running through Kerrville.
Texas officials had warned of possible flash floods ahead of the July Fourth holiday, but the storm’s severity surprised many. Public officials, including Governor Greg Abbott, promised a full investigation into the adequacy of early warnings and weather forecasts once rescue operations conclude.
President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration on Sunday, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and prompting deployment of U.S. Coast Guard aircraft to assist in ongoing operations. Trump also announced plans to visit the flood zone on Friday.
However, questions have emerged about whether staffing shortages at the National Weather Service, caused by recent federal workforce reductions, contributed to the storm’s underestimation. Reports indicated that the San Antonio office, which oversees Kerr County, had a vacancy in the warning coordination meteorologist position due to early retirements under Trump’s administration.
Former NOAA Director Rick Spinrad warned that reduced staffing at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) may have hampered preparedness efforts.
When asked about the potential role of federal cuts in the disaster response, Trump deflected, stating, “That water situation, that all is, and that was really the Biden setup. But I wouldn’t blame Biden for it, either. I would just say this is a 100-year catastrophe.”
In the meantime, emergency operations continue around the clock as families, officials, and volunteers race against time to locate the missing and bring relief to the affected communities.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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