Kerr County Death Toll Tops 100, With 161 Still Missing
Search teams have recovered 103 bodies in Kerr County after the devastating July 4 floods along the Guadalupe River, with Gov. Greg Abbott saying at least 161 people were still unaccounted for.
President Donald Trump visited the area on Friday to survey the damage, the San Antonio Express-News reported. The president promised the federal government would “fully fund” recovery efforts.
The statewide total of flooding deaths stood at 126 as of Sunday, including eight recovered in neighboring Kendall County from the Guadalupe River flooding, and separate flooding incidents in Travis, Williamson and Burnet counties.
Forecasts by the National Weather Service predicted much less rainfall than actually fell in Kerr County, with early predictions having the storm hit hardest near the Rio Grande. Two days before the flood, the Texas Division of Emergency Management staged rescue equipment and personnel in San Antonio, according to the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Free legal resources are available to low-income individuals affected by the Central Texas counties, according to the State Bar of Texas. That assistance includes assistance in securing government benefits, help with insurance claims, and other issues. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid can be contacted toll-free at 833-329-8752.
MEXICAN FIREFIGHTERS ASSIST IN FLOOD RECOVERY
A 13-person crew from Mexico joined Texas firefighters in rescue efforts in the Texas Hill Country, the Texas Standard reported.
The firefighters are highly trained in search-andrescue efforts and have volunteered all over the world.
The crew is composed of members from the Rescate Acuático de Protección Civil y Bomberos de Acuña, Coahuila, in coordination with Fundación 911.
Ismael Aldaba is president of the foundation.
“Our guys have experienced [missions] worldwide. They’ve been traveling to earthquakes.
They’ve been traveling to tsunamis in other parts of the world,” he said. “This is way different. This is the worst we’ve seen.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the crew for its work in Texas.
“The sense of solidarity and brotherhood characterizes us and must always characterize us,” she said.
“No matter the circumstances, Mexicans lend a hand to those who suffer, to those left behind.”
Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, and Cedar Park. Email:gborders@texaspress.com.