Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed in a Friday afternoon press conference that 161 people were still missing, as search and recovery efforts continue through Texas Hill Country. FOX Weather Meteorologist Haley Meier reports from the banks of the Guadalupe River, where clean-up begins.
KERRVILLE, Texas – The death toll continues to rise in the wake of historic and catastrophic flooding that decimated communities across Texas’ Hill Country as at least 160 people remain missing.
On 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 110, will continue to rise as more victims are found during the ongoing search and rescue operations.
“To put this into perspective, just in the Kerr and Kendall counties alone, there are far more fatalities than there were in Hurricane Harvey,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. “That’s how catastrophic this is.”
These numbers could rise. Abbott said at least 161 people are known to be missing in Kerr County.
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People are seen looking at damage left behind after historic and deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas.
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This image shows damage to a road sign after historic and deadly flooding in Texas.
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Trees are seen snapped like twigs after historic and deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas.
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This image shows damage left behind after historic and deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas.
(Robert Ray) -
This image shows damage left behind after historic and deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas.
(Robert Ray) -
Crews begin the cleanup process after historic and deadly flooding in Texas.
(Robert Ray) -
This image shows the aftermath of historic and deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas.
(Robert Ray) -
This image shows the aftermath of historic and deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas.
(Robert Ray) -
This image shows the aftermath of historic and deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas.
(Robert Ray) -
This image shows people searching through debris left behind after historic and deadly flooding in Texas.
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KERR COUNTY, TEXAS, UNITED STATES – JULY 7: A US flag is seen around the Guadalupe River, which overflowed, contributing to a disaster that has killed at least 104 people across the region, including campers and staff in the US state of Texas on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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KERR COUNTY, TEXAS, UNITED STATES – JULY 7: Teams continue rescue and recovery operations around the Guadalupe River, which overflowed, contributing to a disaster that has killed at least 104 people across the region, including campers and staff in the US state of Texas on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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TEXAS, US – JULY 7: A view of damage following the devastating flash floods that hit Central Texas, United States, on Monday, July 7, 2025. The historic Christian girls’ summer camp confirmed on Monday that 27 campers and counselors died after the Guadalupe River overflowed, inundating the camp and surrounding areas. “Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River,” the camp said in a statement. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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KERR COUNTY, TEXAS, UNITED STATES – JULY 7: Teams continue rescue and recovery operations around the Guadalupe River, which overflowed, contributing to a disaster that has killed at least 104 people across the region, including campers and staff in the US state of Texas on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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KERR COUNTY, TEXAS, UNITED STATES – JULY 7: Teams continue rescue and recovery operations around the Guadalupe River, which overflowed, contributing to a disaster that has killed at least 104 people across the region, including campers and staff in the US state of Texas on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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KERR COUNTY, TEXAS, UNITED STATES – JULY 7: Teams continue rescue and recovery operations around the Guadalupe River, which overflowed, contributing to a disaster that has killed at least 104 people across the region, including campers and staff in the US state of Texas on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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TEXAS, US – JULY 7: A view of damage following the devastating flash floods that hit Central Texas, United States, on Monday, July 7, 2025. The historic Christian girls’ summer camp confirmed on Monday that 27 campers and counselors died after the Guadalupe River overflowed, inundating the camp and surrounding areas. “Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River,” the camp said in a statement. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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A person holds a candle reading “Kerrville strong” during a vigil for the victims of the floods over Fourth of July weekend, at Travis Park, in San Antonio, Texas, on July 7, 2025. The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas rose to more than 100 on July 7, as rescuers continued their grim search for people swept away by torrents of water. Among the dead were at least 27 girls and counselors who were staying at a youth summer camp on a river when disaster struck over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP) (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
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INGRAM, TEXAS – JULY 7: Search and rescue crews continue to look for missing persons after devastating floods hit near the Guadalupe River in Ingram, Texas on July 7, 2025. The death toll from flash floods in the US state of Texas has risen to 91, with the majority of fatalities concentrated in Kerr County, officials said Monday. (Photo by Jorge Salgado/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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HUNT, TEXAS – JULY 7: Search and rescue workers use a sonar device while paddling down the Guadalupe River looking for survivors or the remains of victims swept up in the flash flooding on July 7, 2025 in Hunt, Texas. Heavy rainfall early Friday caused severe flash flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas with more than 90 fatalities reported. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images).
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KERRVILLE, TEXAS – JULY 7: U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (Texas) speaks at a news briefing in Texas’ Hill Country near the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas on July 7, 2025. (Photo by Jorge Salgado/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Rescue and recovery efforts continue in full force in Kerr County.
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A Texas state flag flies in a yard filled with debris on July 6, 2025 in Hunt, Texas.
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In an aerial view, the sun sets over the Guadalupe River on July 06, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas, leaving more than 80 people reported dead. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
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Texas National Guard members search for flooding victims near Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas on July 7, 2025.
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Texas National Guard members search for flooding victims near Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas on July 7, 2025.
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Texas National Guard members search for flooding victims near Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas on July 7, 2025.
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A search and rescue volunteer holds a T-shirt and backpack with the words Camp Mystic on them in Comfort, Texas on July 6, 2025. The volunteer found the belongings yesterday along the Guadalupe River near Ingram, Texas. “I hope I find the person to return their belongings, not to find closure,” he said.
(Danielle Villasana for The Washington Post)
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Texas Game Warden Ben Baker said more than 300 game wardens have been helping since the disaster unfolded five days ago.
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.
“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
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.”
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 Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed in a Friday afternoon press conference that 161 people were still missing, as search and recovery efforts continue through Texas Hill Country. FOX Weather Meteorologist Haley Meier reports from the banks of the Guadalupe River, where clean-up begins.
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.
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.
Bud Bolton, of Kerrville, continues to search through debris after experiencing the horrific flooding and hearing the cries of families being pulled down the river.
Bud Bolton told FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray he lost his home to the Central Texas flooding on July 4. He describes trying to help people being swept away on the Guadalupe River and his son finding the body of a child from Camp Mystic.
“It was just the little children that was floating away, is what got me. I didn’t care about my home or my possessions,” he told FOX Weather. “I really didn’t even care about me. It was just those children.”
Bolton is among the many who lost his home but continue to help his community.
“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
(FOX Weather)
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.
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.
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