Kerr County flooding updates: At least 24 people, including children, killed in 'mass casualty event'

KERRVILLE, Texas — Kerr County officials say at least 24 people are dead and more than 22 missing amid “catastrophic” July Fourth flooding which has sparked a massive search-and-rescue response in the Hill Country. 

The ages and identities of most of those who died are unknown at this time, but at least one of the victims was a local camp director.  Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick had said earlier in the day that children were among those found dead. 

The number of those still missing was provided by Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, who said the tally was comprised of children who were at Camp Mystic in Hunt, about 17 miles west of Kerrville. But there have also been reports of missing adults in the aftermath of heavy rains which caused the Guadalupe River water level to rise from 7 feet to nearly 30 in a matter of hours early Friday morning in Hunt. 

“We remain in a search-and-rescue posture right now,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a nighttime news conference alongside Kerr County and state authorities. “They will be nonstop, seeking to find everybody who is unaccounted for.” 

Abbott also signed a disaster declaration for several Central Texas counties to open them up to federal aid. 

Five to 10 inches of rain fell in a short time before sunrise Friday due to slow-moving and intense storms in Kerr and Kendall counties, which remained under a Flash Flood Warning for most of the day. The Guadalupe River crested to near-record levels in some parts of the region. 

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 early morning floods. 

In an earlier update with news media, Kerr County officials said they were working around the clock on rescue and recovery efforts, including to locate the campers still unaccounted for at Camp Mystic. About 15 miles away from the camp, at Ingram Elementary School, a rendezvous point was coordinated for those rescued to be reunited with their families. 

The National Weather Service called the flooding a “life-threatening” situation as the sun was starting to rise on Kerrville and the scope of the devastation started to become clear. At least one death was confirmed at Louise Hays Park in Kerrville, which canceled its “Fourth on the River” holiday celebration amid the devastation. 

Come mid-morning, the park was overtaken by rushing water that tore through stages that had been set up for the Independence Day party, according to organizers. 

State officials said that, given the forecast for potential flash flooding, teams were amassed by Thursday night should the need have arisen for them to respond. 

By Friday night, officials said hundreds of state law enforcement personnel and rescue teams were deployed in the area. More are expected to arrive over the holiday weekend to bolster the recovery effort after what Department of Public Safety Director Freeman Martin said was a “mass casualty event.” 

“We don’t want to get up here and brag about the success when there’s life lost,” he said, “but every resource the DPS has is being used here today.” 

>WATCH: Full presser with Gov. Abbott, other officials

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. State officials said Friday night that, of the many camps in the Kerr County region, Camp Mystic is where they were focusing search efforts. 

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.”

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said that, according to markers on his Kerrville property, Friday’s flood “far surpasses” the historic 1987 flood that devastated the region. Ten teenagers from a church camp tragically drowned in that flood nearly 40 years ago. 

Multiple shelters were coordinated Friday 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.