Gov. Greg Abbott to share update on rescues, disaster declaration after deadly Central Texas floods
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, joined by state officials, will provide an update on the search and rescue efforts in Central Texas after deadly flooding swept across the area on Friday.
President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County on Sunday morning, as Abbott visited flood-damaged areas. Abbott encouraged all Texans to pause in reflection and prayer Sunday, and to also "seek God's wisdom, peace, and mercy in this time of need for so many Texas families."
On Saturday, Abbott said that 850 people have been rescued in the past 36 hours.
Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees Saturday and turned over rocks in the search for more than two dozen children from a girls' camp and many others missing after a wall of water blasted down a river in the Texas Hill Country.
At least 70 people are dead. A dozen are still missing from Camp Mystic in Kerr County, a children's summer camp, officials said Sunday.
The destructive fast-moving waters rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as torrential rains continued to pound communities outside San Antonio on Saturday, and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect.
Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads.
"People need to know today will be a hard day," Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. said Saturday. "Please pray for our community."
Authorities came under growing scrutiny Saturday and Sunday over whether the camps and residents in places long vulnerable to flooding received proper warning and whether enough preparations were made.
The hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing.
"We don't even want to begin to estimate at this time," said City Manager Dalton Rice said on Saturday morning.
