13 dead now in the catastrophic flooding across Kerr County

The death toll from the catastrophic flooding has risen dramatically throughout the day. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed at a 3 p.m. press conference that authorities have “located 13 fatalities” and that he expects there to be “more when this is over.” He emphasized that several people remain unaccounted for and that rescue operations are ongoing.

Leitha said the recovery and rescue process would be lengthy, calling it a “couple of day process.” He stressed that authorities are “not here to hide anything” and would keep the public updated as rescue operations continue.

The deadly flooding prompted disaster declarations from both Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. and Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, who described the event as “very devastating and deadly” and said it “far surpasses the 87 flow” — referring to the historic 1987 flood that previously served as the area’s benchmark disaster.

Multiple children from Camp Mystic are missing, with officials saying some are stranded while others remain unaccounted for. In a message to parents, Camp Mystic said it has “sustained catastrophic level floods” and has “no power, water, or wifi.” The camp reported that “all Cypress Lake campers are accounted for” and “all campers on senior hill are accounted for,” but said parents whose daughters are not accounted for have been notified. “If you have not been personally contacted then your daughter is accounted for,” the camp stated. The camp said it is “working with search and rescue currently” and that “the highway has washed away so we are struggling to get more help.” At least one family of five is missing from an RV park near Ingram. The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the six fatalities but said it will not release further details until next of kin are notified.

Record-Breaking Water Levels

The National Weather Service said the Guadalupe River at Hunt reached its second-highest height on record at 5:10 a.m., surpassing levels from the 1987 flood. The river was forecast to crest at 34 feet at 6 a.m. In Kerrville, NOAA river gauges showed the Guadalupe River rose dramatically from 7 feet at midnight to 29 feet by 4 a.m. — a catastrophic 22-foot rise in just four hours. USGS data shows Johnson Creek near Ingram reached 810 cubic feet per second on July 4, far exceeding the historical maximum of 300 cfs recorded in 2002 and dramatically above the median flow of 12 cfs.

Over 7 inches of rain fell in six hours across Kerr County, with some areas receiving between 6-7 inches of rainfall that caused major rises in the river system. The National Weather Service issued Flash Flood Emergencies, warning of “life-threatening flash flooding.”

Dramatic Rescues and Evacuations

The scale of the emergency became clear through harrowing rescue accounts and ongoing search efforts. Keri Wilt, who lives in Hunt, told The Kerr County Lead that her 83-year-old mother, who also lives in Hunt, was hosting family and they had to break through the roof to escape rising floodwaters.

Andrew Lacy, who lives about 10 miles past the Hunt Store on Highway 39, had 15 family members expected at his house but only 12 arrived. Around 3:30 a.m., he received a text from missing relatives saying “they were in a tree,” he said. Communication has been difficult with many texts failing to go through, forcing families to rely on satellite features on iPhones.

In another case, Steve and Marilyn Edwards of San Angelo were camping at the HTX RV resort off Goat Creek Cutoff when they were evacuated. Their daughters, Allison and Courtney Edwards of Austin, learned their mother was hospitalized but their father remains missing.

Peterson Health said it is “working diligently in response to today’s horrible event” and provided a number for families seeking information on loved ones who may be at the facility.

Kerrville authorities urged residents who live within 100 yards of the river to “evacuate now” as water overtook several streets in town. A reunification area was set up at the Walmart at 2106 Junction Highway. The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office worked to evacuate people on State Highway 39 near the Guadalupe River in Hunt, and the Texas Department of Transportation closed the highway.

Kelly said RV parks along the Guadalupe River were hit hard early Friday morning, with many people awaiting rescue.

Infrastructure Crippled

The flooding crippled infrastructure throughout the region. The Kerrville Public Utility Board reported widespread power outages affecting approximately 2,646 customers as of 9:30 a.m., with Southeast Kerrville, Center Point and Hunt among the hardest hit areas. The Hunt Substation is flooded and remains inaccessible for damage assessment. Power lines crossing rivers near Riverhill and Center Point are down, along with lines on Highway 173.

The city’s water treatment plant on Lake Nimitz, a reservoir on the Guadalupe River, was damaged, forcing the city to switch to wells. City Manager Dalton Rice urged residents to conserve water.

Holiday Celebration Destroyed

The city’s “Fourth on the River” holiday celebration was cancelled after Louise Hays Park flooded Friday morning. The stage for the event was seen downstream in a crumbled mass, caught by trees just east of the park, illustrating the destructive power of the floodwaters.

State Assistance Requested

In a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, Herring requested state assistance, writing that “this incident is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond The City of Kerrville’s capabilities to recover without supplementary state and/or federal assistance.”

Acting Governor Dan Patrick, working from the Texas State Emergency Operations Center, issued a statement acknowledging the “catastrophic flooding” and confirming that the Texas Division of Emergency Management and other state emergency response assets are on the ground assisting with response operations. Patrick warned of continued flooding risks, saying “additional rain is forecast in those areas” and that “there is an ongoing threat for possible flash flooding from San Antonio to Waco for the next 24 to 48 hours.”

Kelly said officials have been in contact with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and state legislators to coordinate resources. He called for “cooperation and prayers” from the public.

Sheriff Leitha announced two reunification centers for families seeking loved ones: Ingram Elementary at 125 Brave Run West in Ingram, and The Arcadia Live at 717 Water Street in Kerrville. He directed people to contact the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 for assistance in locating missing family members.

Relief organizations are mobilizing to assist the community. Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief is working with First Baptist Church, Kerrville to establish a feeding unit that will provide meals and water, with a shelter also located at the church. SBTC Disaster Relief Director Scottie Stice said teams will work in the area “as long as needed” and will send additional teams to help once floodwaters recede.

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has established the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to support local response, relief and recovery efforts. The fund is accessible at https://tinyurl.com/KerrFloodRelief. GoFundMe has also launched a verified fundraiser hub for the flooding.