Camp Mystic

UPDATE (5:00) – 84 deceased have been recovered from Kerr County, including 56 adults and 28 children, according to local authorities.

Identification is pending for 22 adults and 10 children. 10 Camp Mystic campers and one camp counselor remain not accounted for.

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Kerr County has enacted a drone ban after a private drone collided with a rescue helicopter, forcing it to make an emergency landing.

“Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are not suggestions. They are federal airspace rules designed to protect lives during emergency situations. “

This comes after authorities warned of similar situations happening in a press conference on July 6.

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UPDATE (4:30) – Officials in Kendall County said today that although no people had been reported missing, six bodies have been recovered from the flooding destruction.

Those victims have yet to be identified.

Emergency management crews are working hard to assist in search and recovery efforts, with two boat teams sent to the comfort area rescuing eight people.

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Antonio is warning the public of “fraudsters seeking to profit” after floods ripped through the Texas Hill Country.

“Millions of people fall victim to scams every year. Natural disasters and severe weather can create opportunities for fraud, occurring at a time when people may be especially vulnerable, or targeting charitable intentions.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office warns that millions of people every year fall for scams targeting those in communities affected by natural disasters.

This includes by phone, text, email, and even door-to-door to target the most vulnerable. If you think you may have been preyed upon, submit a report at www.justice.gov/disastercomplaintform.

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UPDATE (3:30 PM) – A BURN BAN HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED in Kerr County, starting at 5 p.m. on July 7.

The ban comes at the request of Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, who said people who are burning debris we causing problems with ongoing search and rescue operations.

Officials say the heat put off by the fires can interfere with the heat-detecting cameras used in the search and rescue process, as well as posing a safety concern for crews searching for bodies.

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Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick have both spoken on the damage and destruction throughout the Texas Hill Country.

Both have stressed their support for the region and have thanked the presidential administration for its support.

Ag. Commissioner Sid Miller is deploying TDA resources to help support those in need who have been affected by the devastating floods.

“This is one of the worst natural disasters to hit the Lone Star State,” Commissioner Miller stated. “Families are in shock, farms are flooded, fencing has been destroyed, and worst of all, lives have been lost. During this challenging period, TDA is prepared to assist Texans affected by the situation.”

The AgriStrees Helpline is a 24/7 mental health support service staffed by professionals familiar with the challenges of rural life. If you or a loved one experiences a mental health crisis during this time, call 833-897-2474.

The STAR Fund is a donation-supported funding for eligible farmers and ranchers in counties listed in the Governor’s Disaster declaration.

Ranchers needing hay can use TDA’s Hay Hotline, a free service linking hay providers and those in need, including during emergencies, for donations.

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KERRVILLE, Texas – Crews trudged through debris and waded into swollen riverbanks Monday in the search for victims of catastrophic flooding over the July Fourth weekend that has killed nearly 90 people in Texas, including more than two dozen campers and counselors from an all-girls Christian camp.

In the Hill Country area, home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, searchers have found the bodies of 75 people, including 27 children, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said. Authorities said Monday that 10 girls and a counselor from the camp remain missing.

Twelve other deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, according to local officials.

I need to tell my community and those families who are waiting that this is going to be a rough week,” said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. “Primary search continues, and we remain hopeful, every foot, every mile, every bend of the river.

The search and rescue operation, initially concentrated around Hunt, Texas, has now extended to Canyon Lake as emergency crews navigate dangerous terrain, flood debris, and fast-moving currents. Officials stressed that they are “still in the search phase.”

The unprecedented flooding has left a lasting scar on the region, particularly in the tight-knit communities along the Guadalupe River, where youth summer camps — once filled with laughter and tradition — have now become sites of heartbreak.

Among the most tragic losses is at Camp Mystic, a historic all-girls camp that confirmed the deaths of 27 campers and counselors.

Senator Ted Cruz, speaking at the press briefing, grew emotional as he reflected on the children still missing and the ones confirmed lost.

Texas is grieving right now,” Cruz said. “The pain, the shock of what has transpired these last few days has broken the heart of our state. The children, the little girls who were lost at Camp Mystic, that’s every parent’s nightmare.

Cruz spoke of his family’s own connection to the region. “Last week, we were picking up our daughter from camp here in Hunt,” he said. “Our girls have gone to camp here for a decade.”

A week ago, this was a time of great celebration. You’re dropping off your little girl at camp. Your little boy at camp. You’re celebrating Independence Day, and you know your child is going to be swimming and canoes and horseback riding and doing archery and making lifetime friends. And then suddenly, it turns to tragedy.

As additional rounds of rainfall threaten already saturated ground, officials are bracing for more potential flooding in the days ahead. But for now, the focus remains on the river and on the families still waiting for word.

RELATED: Downtown vigil for central Texas flood victims announced by Centro San Antonio

Camp Mystic officials released a statement confirming the loss of 27 campers and counselors to Hill Country flood.

Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly. We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level. We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.

Also, the family of Chloe Childress, a camp counselor at Camp Mystic, who died during the flood, issued a statement Monday morning remembering their loved one:

Chloe Childress lived a beautiful life that saturated those around her with contagious joy, unending grace, and abiding faith. Returning as a counselor to the place she loved so dearly, Chloe was looking forward to dedicating her summer days to loving and mentoring young girls at Camp Mystic.

Our family was shocked to hear of the horrific tragic flooding in the hill country, and we were devastated to learn that our precious Chloe was among the victims. While we know that her joy is now eternal and her faith has become sight, our hearts are shattered by this loss and the similar heartbreak of other families like ours. We desire to grieve privately during this time and thank so many caring people, in advance, for respecting this wish. Please know we are grateful for every kind thought, your quietly spoken prayers, and the countless hearts of sympathy that are carrying us through these days.

Reagan Brown said his parents, in their 80s, managed to escape uphill as water inundated their home in the town of Hunt. When the couple learned that their 92-year-old neighbor was trapped in her attic, they went back and rescued her.

“Then they were able to reach their tool shed up higher ground, and neighbors throughout the early morning began to show up at their tool shed, and they all rode it out together,” Brown said.

A few miles away, rescuers maneuvering through challenging terrain filled with snakes kept up the search for the missing.

RELATED: Family’s sacred summer tradition shattered by unexpected flood in Texas Hill Country

Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday that 41 people were unaccounted for across the state and more could be missing.

Families were allowed to look around Camp Mystic beginning Sunday morning. A man whose daughter was rescued from a cabin on the highest point in the camp walked a riverbank, looking in clumps of trees and under big rocks.

One family left with a blue footlocker. A teenage girl had tears running down her face as they slowly drove away and she gazed through the open window at the wreckage.

Searching the disaster zone

Crews operating heavy equipment pulled tree trunks and tangled branches from the river. With each passing hour, the prospect of finding more survivors dimmed.

Search-and-rescue crews at one staging area said Monday that more than 1,000 volunteers had been directed to an area of hard-hit Kerr County.

Authorities faced growing questions about whether enough warnings were issued in an area long vulnerable to flooding and whether enough preparations were made.

RELATED: Texas A&M teams lead rescue efforts as central Texas battles catastrophic flooding

President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration Sunday for Kerr County and said he would likely visit Friday. “It’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible,” he told reporters.

Desperate refuge and trees and attics

Survivors shared terrifying stories of being swept away and clinging to trees as floodwaters carried trees and cars past them. Others fled to attics, praying the water wouldn’t reach them.

At Camp Mystic, a cabin full of girls held onto a rope strung by rescuers as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs.

Among those confirmed dead were an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was at the camp, and the director of another camp up the road.

Two school-age sisters from Dallas were missing Sunday after their cabin was swept away. Their parents were staying in a different cabin and were safe, but the girls’ grandparents were unaccounted for.

Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that authorities will work around the clock and said new areas were being searched as the water receded. He declared Sunday a day of prayer for the state.

“I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” he said in a statement.

Harrowing escapes from floodwaters

Survivors shared terrifying stories of being swept away and clinging to trees as rampaging floodwaters carried trees and cars past them. Others fled to attics inside their homes, praying the water wouldn’t reach them.

At Camp Mystic, a cabin full of girls held onto a rope strung by rescuers as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs.

Among those confirmed dead were an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was at Camp Mystic, and the director of another camp up the road.

Two school-age sisters from Dallas were missing after their cabin was swept away. Their parents were staying in a different cabin and were safe, but the girls’ grandparents were unaccounted for.

Locals know the Hill Country as “ flash flood alley” but the flooding in the middle of the night caught many campers and residents by surprise even though there were warnings.

Warnings came before the disaster

On Thursday the National Weather Service advised of potential flooding and then sent out a series of flash flood warnings in the early hours of Friday before issuing flash flood emergencies — a rare alert notifying the public of imminent danger.

Authorities and elected officials have said they did not expect such an intense downpour, the equivalent of months of rain for the area.

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said authorities are committed to a full review of the emergency response.

Trump, asked whether he was still planning to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that was something “we can talk about later, but right now we are busy working.” He has said he wants to overhaul if not completely eliminate FEMA and has sharply criticized its performance.

Trump said he doesn’t plan to rehire any of the federal meteorologists who were fired this year as part of widespread government spending cuts.

“This was a thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it. Nobody saw it. Very talented people there, and they didn’t see it,” the president said.

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, said recent cuts to FEMA and the National Weather Service did not delay warnings ahead of the flood.

“This is not a time for partisan finger pointing and attacks,” he said. “There will be a time to find out what could been done differently. My hope is in time we learn some lessons to implement the next time there is a flood.”

A firefighting crew from Mexico is helping first responders

Jesús Gomez said his team recovered the body of one victim killed in the floods.

“It’s hard, but first responders, we’re a different breed, pretty much,” Gomez said. “It’s a lot of mental health things we need to do, but it’s not the first time we see a dead body.”

Gomez said the search process is difficult, with much of the searching done by hand.

The team is from Acuña, a Mexican border town about 120 miles southwest of Kerrville, Texas.

Leavitt blasts criticism that Trump’s budget and staffing cuts contributed to the high death toll

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the local and federal weather services provided sufficient warnings to the Kerr County community before the floods.

“That was an act of God. It’s not the administration’s fault that the flood hit when it did, but there were early and consistent warnings and, again, the National Weather Service did its job,” Leavitt said.

She outlined that on July 3, the NWS office in Austin-San Antonio conducted briefings for local officials and issued a flood watch in the early afternoon.

That was followed by numerous flood warnings on the night of July 3 and in the pre-dawn hours of July 4, giving a lead time of three hours before the flash flood.

In response to a subsequent question about the warnings and why they were issued when people were likely asleep, Leavitt repeated that the offices were fully staffed.

More volunteers arrive at an impromptu recovery site in Center Point

A table with snacks and water sat at the bottom of a hill where cracked dirt and depressed grass marked the landscape toward the Guadalupe River.

It was a bright and sunny 80 degrees shortly before 2 p.m. as private citizens from across the state hacked away at mangled trees not yet traversed by official rescue operations.

“I had guys show up at that other site,” said volunteer Terrance Ogden, referring to authorities cutting off entry from private individuals in Kerrville. “They got told ‘Go to Center Point.’”

Nebraska is sending a 45-member search and rescue team to help

The group, which includes two canine teams as well as boats and vehicles, was expected to arrive in San Antonio on Tuesday morning and remain in Texas for up to 14 days.

“The team we are sending has the training necessary for dealing with these kinds of disaster environments and will be able to expedite the search efforts that continue to take place,” Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said in a statement.

Florida’s governor is sending water rescue crews to Texas

“Texas has helped us when we’ve had different issues throughout the years,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a news conference. “And we’re happy to step up.”

DeSantis said it’s unfair to politicize the initial response to the unpredictably destructive storm and flooding.

“Mother Nature, especially the water, we see that in Florida with storm surge, it can be really, really nasty,” DeSantis said. “And this was a biblical flood. It was much more than what I think they anticipated.”

White House won’t say if Texas flooding will delay Trump’s plans to scrap FEMA

Asked if Trump may delay his promise to close FEMA and leave disaster response up to the states, Leavitt said, “The president has always said he wants states to do as much as they can.”

She added that Texas officials are doing a “tremendous job” in response to the flooding.

Pressed in a subsequent question about phasing out FEMA, Leavitt said she’d already answered the question — even though she hadn’t.

KERR COUNTY ROAD CLOSURES

UPDATE 2:25 P.M. SUNDAY – KERR COUNTY ROAD CLOSURE UPDATE

Road and bridge crews have been working tirelessly to restore access to local communities. Here are the latest closures:

Unless otherwise listed, all Kerr County-maintained low water crossings and bridges are closed.

Updates available on known roads, low water crossings, and bridges are as follows:

• Arrowhead- Closed
• Bear Creek @ Arcadia- Closed
• Bear Creek @ Freedom- Open
• Byas Springs- Water over the road – Emergency Passable
• Bumble Bee- Emergency Passable
• Cade Loop- Emergency Passable
• Cedar Cliff- Open
• Clark Ranch- Open
• Crossing St @ Lion’s Park – Closed
• CP River Rd – Brink’s Crossing (Monkey Island) – Closed
• Cougar Park-Closed @ the concrete – Emergency Passable
• Cutbirth- Open
• Dowling- Closed
• Ehler’s – Closed
• Fallow Run- Open
• Felix Fisher- Open with one lane closed
• Hermann Sons- Open
• Homilius- Open
• Honey Creek – Emergency Passable
• Hoot Owl Hollow – Emergency Passable
• Indian Creek-Emergency Passable
• Kelly Creek Rd @ Hwy 39 (Waltonia Crossing to Baldwin) – Closed
• Kerrville South Area- Open
• Lane Valley- Emergency passable
• Leinweber – Open
• Mo Ranch – Open
• Seago – Closed
• Sheppard Rees- Open
• Stower’s Ranch – Open
• Stewart Junkin- Open
• Ranchero – Open
• Rio Vista – Closed
• Rockbottom- Open
• Upper Turtle Creek – All crossings have water over the road.

Assessments for hidden damage to the structures will be conducted once the water recedes. Roads marked “emergency passable” are NOT open for the general public.

TX-39 has also been closed to onlookers, as the volume of traffic west of Ingram was impeding search and rescue operations. Those who live in the area must be prepared to show photo ID to officers on the roadway.