Gov. Greg Abbott to hold 9 p.m. press conference about flood damage, fatalities

Gov. Greg Abbott will hold a press conference Friday evening to address the state’s response to catastrophic flooding that has killed at least 13 people and left 20 girls unaccounted for at a summer camp in Kerr County.

The 9 p.m. press conference at the Hill Country Youth Event Center will include top state emergency officials and local leaders as rescue operations continue throughout the Texas Hill Country community.

Abbott will be joined by Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Adjutant General of Texas Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, Texas Department of Public Safety Col. Freeman Martin and local officials.

The governor’s direct involvement marks an escalation in the state response to flooding that began early Friday morning when overnight storms dumped more than 7 inches of rain in six hours across Kerr County. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had been serving as acting governor while Abbott was out of state.

The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes, reaching its second-highest level on record and surpassing the historic 1987 flood that previously served as the area’s benchmark disaster.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed at a 3 p.m. briefing that authorities have “located 13 fatalities” and expect the death toll to rise. Patrick said 20 girls remain unaccounted for at Camp Mystic, though some may be stranded and unable to communicate.

The massive rescue operation includes 14 helicopters, 12 drones, nine rescue teams and 400-500 personnel on the ground from various agencies. Patrick urged the public to stay away from the area, warning that additional aircraft could create dangerous conditions for rescue operations.