Kerr County flooding updates: At least 24 people, including children, killed in devastating floods

KERRVILLE, Texas — Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. issued a disaster declaration amid “catastrophic” local flooding that has killed at least 13 people on the Fourth of July. 

County and state officials confirmed the fatalities. Their ages and identities are unknown at this time, but Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said “some were adults, some were children.” 

Five to 10 inches of rain had fallen before sunrise due to slow-moving and intense storms in Kerr and Kendall counties, which remain under a Flash Flood Warning until at least 7 p.m. Saturday. That could still be extended after the Guadalupe River crested to one of its highest-ever peaks earlier on Friday morning; water levels in Hunt, about 17 miles west of Kerrville, rose from 7 feet at midnight to over 29 feet by 4:30 a.m.

Some residents saw their homes and property washed away. Others were rescued from high water and trees after they were caught off guard by the floods. 

In a 3 p.m. update with news media, Kerr County officials said were working around the clock on rescue and recovery efforts. They said there are still several people unaccounted for, including more than 20 children from an all-girls camp in Hunt named Camp Mystic. 

Boerne, San Antonio and other cities in the state are deploying resources to assist search-and-rescue efforts. 

Kerr County officials are expected to give another update at 7:30 p.m. 

The National Weather Service called the flooding a “life-threatening” situation. At least one death was confirmed at Louise Hays Park in Kerrville, which canceled its “Fourth on the River” holiday celebration amid the devastation. 

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said it had responded to “multiple calls for high-water rescues.” Judge Kelly, who lives in Kerrville, said that according to markers on his property, Friday’s flood “far surpasses” the historic 1987 flood in Kerr County. Ten teenagers from a church camp tragically drowned in that flood nearly 40 years ago. 

At Camp Mystic, along the Guadalupe River, more than 20 campers are still not accounted for.

The camp had more than 700 kids, many of whom are from out of town. Officials say parents have been notified if their kids are among those missing. 

Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick said about 23 campers are not accounted for as of 3 p.m.

Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly, a retreat center in Kerr County, said all who were there are accounted for. Staff at Texas Lions Camp, Camp Waldemar and Camp La Junta also reported all were safe there. 

Parents with kids at the camps are urged to contact camp officials directly.

Kerrville authorities had urged early in the morning that residents who live within 100 yards of the river “evacuate now” as water overtakes several streets in town. Reunification areas have been set up at the Walmart at 2106 Junction Highway and Ingram Elementary School (125 Brave Run in Ingram).

“I was running the river trail at 3 a.m. this morning… there was no signs of (the Guadalupe) rising at that point,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice. “This happened very quickly in a short amount of time (and) could not be predicted… this is not like a tornado where you can have a siren. It hit, and it hit hard.”

Multiple shelters have been coordinated for those forced to evacuate, including at First United Methodist Church (321 Thompson Drive) and Ingram Elementary School in Ingram. The American Red Cross is assisting with reunification efforts; if you’re looking for someone after the floods, call (800) 733-2767. 

“Our office is working with a wide variety of local and state agencies to respond to calls and rescue,” the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “The entire county is an extremely active scene. Residents are encouraged to shelter in place and not attempt travel. Those near creeks, streams, and the Guadalupe River should immediately move to higher ground.”

A widespread power outage, meanwhile, is affecting 2,500 customers in Kerr County in the aftermath of the severe weather. 

Patrick, who is currently acting as Texas governor, gave this response to the flooding emergency: 

“I am working in coordination with the state’s emergency response team on the significant flooding that occurred in the Hill Country and Concho Valley regions in the early hours of this morning. The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office has reported catastrophic flooding in the area, with several people missing and confirmed loss of life. Additional rain is forecast in those areas. Even if the rain is light, more flooding can occur in those areas. There is an ongoing threat for possible flash flooding from San Antonio to Waco for the next 24 to 48 hours in addition to the continued risks in west and central Texas.

“I urge Texans in impacted areas to heed the guidance of their local officials. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and other state emergency response assets are on the ground assisting Texas communities with response operations and any unmet needs. I will hold a press conference from the Texas State Emergency Operations Center in Austin later this afternoon to brief the public and the media with the latest updates. Media advisory to follow.”

Governor Greg Abbott also posted this response.

“The state of Texas is surging all available resources to respond to the devastating flooding around the Kerr county area.
That includes water rescue teams, sheltering centers, the National Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety. The immediate priority is saving lives.”

Bandera County is also experiencing flooding; authorities there say North State Highway 16 at Four Sisters, North State Highway 16 at Benton Creek, Brewington Creek and FM 2107 at Rocky Creek have high water levels. 

At 5:10 a.m., the Guadalupe River reached its second-highest height on record, the NWS says—even higher than the 1987 flood. 

“This is a very dangerous and life-threatening flood event,” weather officials said on social media, while urging residents to “move to higher ground.”

This is a partial list of street closures in Kerrville due to the flooding:

• Arcadia Loop
• Most of Thompson Drive
• Guadalupe Street
• Rio Robles
• Riverside Drive
• Fourth Street
• Second Street and Lytle
• First Street
• Park Street
• All low-water crossings at Quinlan Creek

This is a developing story.