Texas Flood Death Toll Rises to 109; Over 180 Still Missing in Kerr County

The death toll from the devastating flash floods that struck Central Texas over the July Fourth weekend has risen to at least 109, according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott. As search and rescue operations continue, more than 180 people remain unaccounted for, with many of the victims confirmed as children.

The catastrophic flooding, which swept through the Texas Hill Country early Friday morning, particularly impacted Kerr County and the city of Kerrville, a town of 25,000 residents. Torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to overflow, turning the area into a disaster zone. A significant number of fatalities occurred at Camp Mystic, a historic Christian girls’ summer retreat near Hunt, where 27 campers and counselors, including the camp director, lost their lives.

Governor Abbott, speaking at a press conference after an aerial tour of the area, revealed that 94 bodies have been recovered in Kerr County alone, with five girls and a camp counselor still missing. Another child, unrelated to the camp, is also unaccounted for. Authorities have also reported 15 additional flood-related deaths across other parts of the Hill Country, an area known as “flash flood alley.” Local reports have estimated at least 22 deaths outside Kerr County, bringing the total confirmed toll to 109.

Search efforts have been hindered by intermittent storms, thick mud, and large debris fields. Teams from neighboring states, federal agencies, and even Mexico have joined the recovery efforts. The last person found alive in Kerr County was rescued on Friday, officials said.

“We need to find every single person who is missing. That’s job number one,” Governor Abbott stated, noting that 161 individuals are still missing in Kerr County, with 12 more missing across the broader flood zone northwest of San Antonio.

Among the missing are the brother, sister-in-law, and two children of country singer Pat Green, who confirmed on social media that his family members were swept away in the Kerrville flood.

Lieutenant Colonel Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens described the work as “extremely treacherous and time-consuming,” with dangerous conditions persisting due to standing water and unstable debris.

The floods were triggered by more than a foot of rain falling within a single hour before dawn on Friday — far surpassing forecasts. That water funneled into the confluence of two branches of the Guadalupe River, sending a sudden surge into Kerrville. According to city officials, the event unfolded within just two hours, leaving little opportunity for evacuation.

While the Texas Emergency Management Agency had issued flash flood warnings a day earlier, questions remain over whether more could have been done to alert vulnerable communities. Kerr County officials have come under scrutiny for not initiating mass evacuations or providing timely warnings, though Sheriff Larry Leitha defended the response, saying 911 calls began around 4 to 5 a.m. on Friday, hours after a flash flood alert was issued.

Meanwhile, volunteers like U.S. Army veteran Sandi Gilmer, who found a family photo album buried in the mud, are combing the wreckage in hopes of reuniting lost items with surviving family members.

Scientists have warned that climate change is contributing to more frequent and severe flood events, as rising temperatures lead to heavier rainfall and flash floods, especially in vulnerable regions like Texas.

Governor Abbott announced that a special session of the Texas legislature will be held later this month to assess the emergency response and allocate funding for disaster relief and community recovery.

As the waters begin to recede, residents are left to grapple with the tragic loss of life and the massive scale of destruction across one of the worst flood disasters the state has seen in decades.