Historic Texas flooding death toll surpasses 100 as desperate search for survivors enters 5th day
Deaths have now been reported in six Texas counties – Kerr, Burnet, Travis, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson. And officials fear the death toll, which currently sits at 109, will continue to rise as more victims are found during the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Texas flooding disaster claims more than 100 lives
More than 100 people were killed in Texas after devastating flooding that occurred over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray was in Kerrville on Tuesday morning with the latest on the disaster and recovery efforts.
KERRVILLE, Texas – The death toll continues to rise in the wake of historic and catastrophic flooding that decimated communities across Texas’ Hill Country as hundreds of first responders look for survivors.
At a news conference Tuesday, Kerr County officials said the death toll there reached at least 87, including 30 children.
Many of those children were attending Camp Mystic – a Christian, all-girls summer camp located on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt.
Deaths have now been reported across six Texas counties – Kerr, Burnet, Travis, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson. Officials fear the death toll, which currently sits at 109, will continue to rise as more victims are found during the ongoing search and rescue operations.
At Tuesday's news conference, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha pleaded with people who have private boats to stay off the Guadalupe River and allow recovery teams to continue their work.
"You know, this is a tragic time for us," he said. "We are so grateful and thankful for all the resources that have been provided to us to do the job."
Leitha added that crews "will not stop until the mission is complete."
Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr., said that teams at the city, state and federal levels are working together, not separately, during this operation.
"If you go in the emergency operations center, you don’t see silos," he said. "You see one team."
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Drone video captures dramatic bird’s-eye look at Texas flooding
A drone video is providing a dramatic look from above during the devastating and deadly flooding that impacted Kendall County on the Fourth of July.
Texas Game Warden Ben Baker, who was also at the news conference, said more than 300 game wardens have been helping since the disaster unfolded five days ago.
"We, as Texas, are strong, and together we face adversity," he said. "Your Texas game wardens responded in the early morning hours on Friday to this tragic event, along with many other local and state partners."
Baker said crews have searched at least 26 miles of river since the catastrophe.
"We’ve had approximately 444 rescues, 30 recoveries," he said.
HERE'S HOW TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF THE TEXAS FLOODING
Campers belt out singing church music as the evacuate from Camp Mystic
At least 90 people have perished from the devastating flooding that swept most of Central Texas.
Resources being used in the recovery operations include two helicopters with hoist teams, 12 drone teams, 10 K-9 units, nine swift-water boat crews, 15 airboats, 16 UTVs and 169 four-wheel-drive vehicles.
"Your Texas game wardens will remain here and serving the community," Baker said. "We just ask you to continue to pray for the victims, for their families, for your first responders, for everyone involved."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for more than a dozen counties in Texas’ Hill Country that were impacted, and President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County to "ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need."
Trump will also travel to Texas this week to tour the devastation.
‘Looking for a miracle’
Texas communities reeling in wake of deadly flood disaster: ‘I looked for bodies’
As the death toll in the wake of the Texas flooding disaster continues to climb, residents in the area have stepped up to help with the search efforts. Weather Correspondent Robert Ray has the latest from Kerrville.
Scenes of devastation stretch as far as the eye can see, with piles of destroyed homes and businesses lying on damaged roads, as well as along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerrville.
All the while, the search for survivors continues around the clock.
Crews begin the cleanup process after historic and deadly flooding in Texas. (Robert Ray / FOX Weather)
"Search and rescue continues here," FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray said Tuesday morning. "It has not stopped since July Fourth, and we see the visuals. From Kerrville and other areas, men and women on the ground, first responders are walking the banks of the Guadalupe River, looking for a miracle."
Helicopters continue to fly overhead, hoping to find some of the missing still alive.
"When the light comes up, it will be a flurry of activity on the banks of the Guadalupe looking for a miracle," Ray continued. "Also, people here, residents, are trying their best to help those that lost everything."
People are seen looking at damage left behind after historic and deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas. (Robert Ray / FOX Weather)
And it’s been an emotional roller coaster for those who survived the disaster.
"I spent the first two days crying," Joyce Pearce said. "That second day, I stopped crying. I went and fed people. The third day, I came out and looked for bodies. Here I am again. It’s horrible. I have grandchildren that, I just couldn’t imagine them flowing down a river."
This image shows the aftermath of historic and deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas. (Robert Ray / FOX Weather)
Pearce said that she and a friend have been looking through piles of debris "hoping that maybe we can find something that reunited somebody back with their family."
Aid groups from across the U.S. have descended upon the scene to help, and President Donald Trump said he would be on the ground in Texas on Friday to tour the extensive damage and destruction.
More rain possible in Texas this week
After more than a foot of rain caused the historic flooding across south-central Texas over the Fourth of July holiday, conditions are finally expected to begin to dry out, but there’s still a risk of more precipitation and thunderstorms by midweek.
The FOX Forecast Center said that by Tuesday afternoon, rain and thunderstorms will mainly be confined to the Gulf Coast region of Texas.
Most areas impacted by flooding will remain dry, but there’s a chance for more rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday.
Damage left behind after Texas floods produced 'deadly flood wave' along river
Heavy rainfall produced a "deadly flood wave" along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, according to the National Weather Service. The surging river carried away cars and wiped out entire homes.
Most of those storms will be east of the Interstate 35 corridor, but due to the already saturated soil, this could lead to more flash flooding.
And downstream river and lake flooding will continue over the next several days. While the first rivers to flood have already crested, floodwaters will continue to move downstream.
The Guadalupe River in Bloomington, Texas, more than 200 miles downstream from the Guadalupe River in Hunt, is not expected to reach minor flood stage until Wednesday.