The number of people reported missing in the hardest hit Texas flood region during the catastrophic floods has plunged dramatically from nearly 100 as most have been found safe, officials announced Saturday.
Only three people remain unaccounted for in Kerr County – down sharply from 97 earlier this week – after deadly floodwaters tore through the Lone Star State on July 4.
“Through extensive follow-up work among state and local agencies, many individuals who were initially reported as missing have been verified as safe and removed from this list,” Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said in a statement.
“This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time.”
About 160 people were unaccounted for in Kerr County alone at the height of the catastrophe.
Officials said search and rescue operations will continue across the Guadalupe River watershed for those still missing.
Kerr County was the epicenter of destruction when the Guadalupe River surged 20 feet in just 90 minutes during the early hours of the Fourth of July, killing 27 children and counselors at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp located on the river bank.
In total, at least 135 people were killed statewide in the historic floods, with Kerr County accounting for about 107 of the deaths – including 70 adults and 37 children.
The disaster has since sparked scrutiny over the state’s emergency response and warning systems as the deadly storm wreaked havoc.
The horrific flooding is one of the deadliest events for US children in the past 100 years.
With Post wires.
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