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Greg Abbott Vows Nonstop Texas Flood Rescues as Missing Toll Remains Unknown

Texas officials reported that at least 25 people have died and 237 people were rescued Friday following major flooding in Central Texas.

Published July 5, 2025 at 3:53am


Texas officials reported at least 25 people died and 237 people were rescued Friday after major flooding along the Guadalupe River in Central Texas.

An official tally of those missing was unable to be counted as of Friday night.

FRIDAY UPDATES: Death toll from Texas floods rises to 25, at least 5 people from Houston confirmed

"We don't have an estimate," Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha said. "The problem was it was a holiday weekend here. We have a lot of campers here, and we do not know that number at this time."

Gov. Greg Abbott said the state won't rest until every missing person is found.

“We remain in a search and rescue posture right now," Abbott said. "It's been going on over the course of the day ... They will continue in the darkness of night. They will be taking place when the sun rises in the morning. They will be nonstop, seeking to find everybody who is unaccounted for."

Among those unaccounted for are around 23-to-25 people from Camp Mystic, Leitha said. Camp Mystic is a private Christian girls summer camp in Hunt, where earlier Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said 23 girls attending the camp were missing.

LOCAL TIES: Houston-born Hill Country camp director among at least 24 dead in devastating Kerr County floods

Officials said they were in contact with about 18 camps during the day.

"All the other camps we've accounted for everybody," Leitha said.

Of the 237 people who were rescued or evacuated, 167 of them were by helicopter.

Officials said more than 1,000 state officials and state partners responded to the flooding. Leitha said all issues from the flooding occurred in the 30 miles west of Kerrville on the Guadalupe River.

LOOKING BACK: Deadly Hill Country flood evokes memories of similar disaster in 1987

Abbott said he received calls from Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who all offered assistance if needed to the state of Texas.

"This is a hard day," Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. said, "and there will be hard days to come."