Federal resources join search for missing camp children, families after historic Texas flood

Rescuers backed by additional federal resources will continue searching Sunday for missing children from Camp Mystic and entire families who were swept away during Friday’s catastrophic flooding that killed 43 people in the Texas Hill Country.

President Donald Trump has committed “all resources of the federal government” to help find the missing and will honor Gov. Greg Abbott’s request for a federal disaster declaration, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Saturday.

“President Trump is absolutely heartbroken by what has happened and the loss of life,” Noem said. “He wants Texans to know how much he loves Texas and how much he is grieving for families who have lost someone, including children still being sought.”

The federal response includes Coast Guard aircraft equipped with thermal imaging for night searches, Customs and Border Protection teams with specialized rescue units, and FEMA personnel embedded in state operations. Officials said the search will continue 24 hours a day with instructions to “assume every missing person is alive.”

“The entire river is being searched from the northernmost impact, with assets in the air, boats in the water, and ground crews working the banks as water recedes,” officials said during Saturday’s briefing. Federal agencies are working seamlessly with state and local responders as “one team” to deliver resources for Texas.

Community Mourns Beloved Coach and Family

The tragedy struck close to home for the Kerrville community with the confirmed deaths of Tivy High School boys soccer coach Reece Zunker and his wife, Paula, whose bodies were recovered from the HTR RV Park area. The couple’s two children, Lyle and Holland, remain missing.

Kerrville Independent School District Superintendent Brent Ringo wept when discussing the loss of the Zunkers with The Kerr County Lead.

“I just can’t believe this,” said an emotional Ringo. Reece Zunker was recently named the district’s Outstanding Secondary Teacher and was beloved by students and colleagues throughout the community.

The HTR RV Park in the Ingram/Kerrville area was hit particularly hard by Friday’s historic flood, with entire families reported missing. The recreational vehicle park sits along the Guadalupe River corridor, where the most devastating damage occurred.

Comprehensive Missing Persons List Compiled

A comprehensive list of missing persons compiled by Leslee McClure of JAM Broadcasting, freelance journalist and longtime community resident Tony Gallucci, and The Lead’s Alyson Amestoy shows the widespread impact across recreational areas and camps along the river corridor.

The missing persons include 20 people from Camp Mystic, 31 from HTR RV Resort in Ingram, 14 from the Hunt/Casa Bonita area, 16 from other areas of Hunt, two from Kerrville, one from Ingram and 17 from unknown locations. The list reveals how the disaster particularly affected visitors and families who came to the Hill Country for Fourth of July weekend camping and recreational activities.

Latest Death Toll and Search Update

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported Saturday evening that 43 deceased individuals had been recovered as of 5:30 p.m., comprising 28 adults and 15 children. Of those recovered, 12 adults and 5 children are still pending identification.

“We will be on this till we find the last body,” Leitha said during Saturday’s briefing, expressing appreciation for assistance from all levels of government. He said the governor and federal government have assured officials they will have all resources needed and they are “in really good shape to keep going for several more days.”

City Manager Dalton Rice confirmed that 27 Camp Mystic campers remain missing and said there is no cap on the total number of people being searched for, as officials don’t know how many visitors were along the riverbank for the Fourth of July weekend.

“This was a massive tragedy. Hands down,” Rice said, describing how the event happened “very fast, with water rising over 20-30 feet in less than two hours” on a holiday morning, leaving “not a lot of time” for warnings.

Rice detailed the combined primary aerial and ground search covering about 100 meters on either side of the Guadalupe River, from one mile north of Camp Mystic through Hunt and Ingram. He said many camps are now “self-extricating” or managing their own evacuations as water recedes.

The city manager said Kerrville will likely operate on well water for about four weeks due to debris, chemicals, gasoline and other contaminants in the surface water. He advised residents wanting to help to “pick up a little bit of debris” locally but to stay out of major affected areas due to dangerous conditions.

A missing person’s call center continues operating at 830-258-1111, with officials asking for last known location and identifying information when possible.

Robert Earl Keen Pledges Support

Country music star Robert Earl Keen, who was scheduled to headline the cancelled “Fourth on the River” celebration, announced comprehensive support for flood relief efforts in an emotional statement released Saturday.

“The Texas Hill Country and namely my hometown of Kerrville, Texas, has been crippled by unprecedented flooding on the 4th of July,” Keen said. “This has resulted in devastation across the area, and there are still many missing from the event, including campers from Camp Mystic, which holds a special place in mine and my family’s hearts.”

Keen revealed that both of his daughters attended summer camp at Camp Mystic, adding personal significance to his response. The country music legend announced that he will donate 100% of merchandise sales from his current tour to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and plans a benefit concert, details of which will follow.

“My thought and prayers go out to all of those affected and special thanks for the amazing support of the first responders from the community and all over Texas rushing to aid those in need,” Keen said. “I will be working on a benefit to support the community and more details to follow as soon as we know them.”

Keen specifically directed supporters to donate through the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, saying he will continue working “in partnership with the community to continue to support those in need.”

Search Operations Continue

More than 20 girls from Camp Mystic remain missing after Friday’s historic flood sent the Guadalupe River to 147,000 cubic feet per second. The flood ranks as the second-highest on record for the Guadalupe River at Kerrville, surpassing the famous 1987 disaster that killed 10 teenagers. Only the 1932 flood, estimated at 196,000 cubic feet per second, exceeded Friday’s levels.

Hundreds of first responders have completed a primary search of about 100 meters on either side of the river from one mile north of Camp Mystic through Hunt and Ingram. The search area extends approximately 30 miles along the Guadalupe River corridor where the most severe damage occurred.

Abbott expanded the state disaster declaration Saturday to include six additional counties — Bexar, Burnett, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson — as the scope of damage became clear. Senator John Cornyn thanked Trump and Noem for “responding so quickly” to the governor’s federal declaration request.

The flood ranks as the second-highest on record for the Guadalupe River at Kerrville, surpassing the famous 1987 disaster that killed 10 teenagers. Only the 1932 flood, estimated at 196,000 cubic feet per second, exceeded Friday’s levels.

Federal officials acknowledged concerns about weather prediction capabilities after the National Weather Service issued only a moderate flood watch before the unprecedented rainfall. Noem said the Trump administration is working to upgrade “ancient” weather notification systems to provide more advanced warnings.

Additional storms forecast for Sunday pose new concerns for the saturated region. The National Weather Service warned that 2 to 4 inches of rain could fall, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 10 inches, which could hamper ongoing search operations.

Approximately 400 utility customers remain without power, primarily in areas along the South Fork of the Guadalupe River where extensive damage includes 40 downed power poles. Restoration efforts face challenges from debris-clogged access roads and damaged infrastructure.

Officials scheduled press briefings for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday to provide updates on search operations and recovery efforts.

“Local, state, and federal agencies are working as one team, setting aside any turfs to deliver for the people of Texas,” officials said, emphasizing the coordinated response to find the missing and help the community recover from one of the deadliest floods in state history.