Trump signs disaster declaration for Kerr County

President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration Sunday for Kerr County, Texas, authorizing federal aid for the catastrophic flooding that has killed 59 people and left 12 still missing.

The federal declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act provides individual assistance and public assistance to help with recovery from the flooding that began July 4. Federal funding will cover 75% of eligible costs for other needs assistance and public assistance programs.

“I just signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need,” Trump said in a social media post Sunday. “These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will coordinate federal assistance efforts, with FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Benjamin Abbott overseeing the response and working with state officials on disaster assistance.

Trump said the U.S. Coast Guard and state first responders have rescued more than 850 people from the floodwaters that devastated the Texas Hill Country community when unprecedented rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise more than 20 feet in less than two hours.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was on the ground Saturday with Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed a state disaster declaration Friday covering nine counties affected by the flooding.

The federal declaration comes as search and rescue operations continue with more than 400 first responders from over 20 agencies working to locate 11 Camp Mystic campers and one counselor who remain missing. Bodies are being recovered throughout the disaster zone, with 38 adults and 21 children confirmed dead as of Sunday morning.

The Stafford Act declaration allows federal agencies to provide emergency assistance and authorizes FEMA to coordinate relief efforts. Individual assistance programs can provide temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans and other services to help individuals and households recover.

Public assistance provides funding to state and local governments and certain nonprofits for emergency work and permanent repair of damaged infrastructure including roads, bridges, utilities and public buildings.

The disaster began early Friday morning when torrential rainfall dumped unprecedented amounts of water across the Hill Country, causing flash flooding that caught many residents by surprise during the July 4 holiday. The flooding destroyed homes, businesses and infrastructure while displacing hundreds of residents.

Sheriff Larry Leitha said Sunday that search operations are ongoing with more than 100 air, water and ground vehicles deployed across the disaster zone. Officials have divided the operational area into grids for systematic searching along the Guadalupe River.

The federal response adds to extensive state resources already deployed to Kerr County, including Texas National Guard helicopters, Texas Department of Public Safety personnel and Texas A&M Task Force One search and rescue teams.

Kerr County, located 65 miles northwest of San Antonio, has a population of about 52,600. The region’s steep terrain and narrow valleys make it particularly vulnerable to flash flooding during heavy rainfall events.