Crews have been searching for victims using helicopters, boats, and drones.
Texas officials said Saturday that most of the 160 people reported missing in Kerr County have been accounted for, but that three are still missing.
County officials said earlier in the week that 97 people were still unaccounted for after the deadly July 4 flash floods. Authorities continue to search for the three still missing.
The news comes in the third week after deadly flash flooding unexpectedly hit the Texas Hill Country, killing 116 people in Kerr County, including 36 children. Another 29 were killed in other Texas counties impacted by the flooding along the Guadalupe River.
“Through extensive follow-up work among state and local agencies, many individuals who were initially reported as missing have been verified as safe and removed from the list,” Kerr County officials said in the update. “This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time.”
Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said in a statement, “We are profoundly grateful to the more than 1,000 local, state, and federal authorities who have worked tirelessly in the wake of the devastating flood that struck our community.”
Crews have been searching for victims using helicopters, boats, and drones.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly thanked law enforcement, first responders, and their supporting agencies for their “dedication, professionalism, and compassion” in the wake of the rescue and recovery efforts.
“Our thoughts remain with the families still awaiting news, and we will continue to stand with them as efforts persist,” Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr., said.
The Hill Country, northwest of San Antonio, is a popular holiday destination for campers seeking an escape along the river amid the landscape of rolling hills. But its dry, dirt-packed soil makes the region naturally prone to flash flooding because the ground doesn’t readily soak up rain, of which there was plenty in a stalled storm system that hovered over the area for longer than expected.
By Melanie Sun
