161 People Could Still Be Missing in Kerr County Floods, Abbott Says

The death toll from flash flooding in Kerr County has reached 87, including 30 children, while officials continued searching from Hunt to Canyon Lake for an unknown number of missing people.

Abbott: 161 flood victims could still be missing

As many as 161 flood victims could still be missing in Kerr County, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday, the first estimate from state officials on the number of people still unaccounted for from the deadly July 4 floods.

Law enforcement agencies identified the number of missing through reports from loved ones and by gathering information about people who may not have been registered to hotels or campsites, Abbott said.

Five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic were still missing as of Tuesday afternoon, Abbott said. Another child who was not affiliated with a camp is also missing.

There are another 12 people missing elsewhere around the state, Abbott said.

Bexar County mobilizes for flood search and rescue, will help ID victims

Bexar County has sent vehicles and personnel to Kendall and Kerr counties to help in the search and recovery operations, county officials said Tuesday.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office will also identify the remains of 36 victims transported from Kerr County. Officials said the medical examiner is assisting in the identification process and did not say whether the victims had ties to Bexar County.

Resources sent to the Hill Country include one utility terrain vehicle, five boats, a mobile radio communications tower, 15 drones and four drone pilots.

Bexar County fire crews and first responders were also dispatched to the flooding.

The Bexar County Office of Emergency Management assisted at a family reunification center and provided diesel for generators needed to cook hot meals for first responders. It also sent 6,000 bottles of water to Kerr County.

Kendall County orders burn ban

Kendall County officials have enacted a burn ban, which is effective immediately, according to the county Office of Emergency Management.

In neighboring Kerr County, officials imposed a countywide burn ban on Monday to prevent heat given off by debris fires from interfering with drones and sensors used in the search for flood victims.

The Kerr County ban will last at least a week, officials said.

New Braunfels keeps rivers closed for recreational users

The Guadalupe and Comal rivers in New Braunfels remain closed for recreational users, the city said Tuesday.

"While conditions are improving, local rivers are still experiencing increased flow, water clarity issues, and hidden submerged debris," spokesman David Ferguson said.

The city will reevaluate conditions on Wednesday.

The Comal is flowing at about 280 cubic feet per second near the Tube Chute, about average for this time of year and less than a quarter of the peak rate on Monday, according to U.S. Geological Survey data. On July 5, it surged above 2,000 cfs.

Releases from Canyon Lake into the Guadalupe River have remained steady at about 93 cfs, according to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. The river is still flowing at about 300 cfs near River Acres Park, according to another USGS gauge there.

Power service being restored in Kerr County

Power has been restored to 160 customers in three areas most affected by outages, the Kerrville Public Utility Board said Tuesday.

Crews restored service in the Cade Loop Crossing, Rio Vista Crossing and Kelly Creek Crossing areas on Monday.

As of Monday night, 140 customers remained without power, the utility said.

Kerrville’s James Avery Jewelers to give $1 million for flood relief

James Avery Artisan Jewelers announced Tuesday that it is committing $1 million for "food, shelter, mental health care and other critical needs" in Kerrville, where it was founded and is based.

Until Aug. 4, all proceeds from purchases of the James Avery "Deep in the Heart of Texas" charm will also be donated to flood relief efforts, the company said.

"This charm has always celebrated the pride and resilience of our state, and now, it carries a deeper meaning," the company said.

Death toll from Kerr County flooding rises to 87

The death toll from flash flooding in Kerr County has risen to 87, including 30 children, county officials said Tuesday morning.

There are five Camp Mystic campers and one counselor still not accounted for, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said. He said 27 people whose remains were recovered have not yet been identified.

Officials do not have a total estimate on how many people are missing across the county, Leitha said.

The search for survivors and remains has spanned 30 to 35 miles of the Guadalupe River — and that could expand to a 50- or 60-mile search before the operation ends, Leitha said Monday.

Across Central Texas, there have been more than 110 confirmed deaths from the weekend flooding. In addition to the Kerr County fatalities, seven people died in Kendall County, seven in Travis County, four in Williamson County and four in Burnet County, officials said. At least 15 people are still missing in the Austin area.

Texas Game Wardens have made 444 rescues and recovered 30 people, Lt. Col. Ben Baker said Tuesday.

Officials urge people in the area to stay off the roads and avoid using private boats on the river Tuesday to make way for first responders, said Kerrville Police Department spokesperson Jonathan Lamb.

In response to questions about what happened in the hours before the deadly flood, officials said search and rescue operations remain their priority.

Seven flood-related deaths confirmed in Kendall County

The death toll from the Guadalupe River flooding has risen to seven in Kendall County, the county's Office of Emergency Management said Tuesday morning.

County officials said seven bodies have been recovered, but provided few other details.

Crews will continue searching along the Guadalupe River, in wooded areas and at low-water crossings using drones, K9 units and boats, county officials said.

Resident should expect an increased presence of first responders Tuesday, the office of emergency management said. The agency asked people to avoid the area where searches are taking place and to avoid flying private drones.