Hundreds of first responders continue to search for survivors for a third straight day after fatal flash floods swept through the region early Friday, killing at least 82 people across Central Texas, according to the Associated Press.
Sixty-eight of those deaths are in Kerr County alone, Newsweek previously reported.
The other deaths include, 5 in Travis County, 3 in Burnett, 2 in Kendall, one in Tom Green County and one more in Williamson County.
Why It Matters
Fast-moving floodwaters surged 26 feet along the Guadalupe River before dawn on Friday, sweeping away homes and vehicles in Texas Hill Country.
The high-volume rainfall has killed dozens of people, while others remain missing and displaced. More than 850 people have been rescued in the last 36 hours, with search crews using helicopters, boats, and drones to locate victims and rescue people stranded in trees and isolated camps.
The National Weather Service has activated several flood warnings across Texas, many of which are expected to last until at least Monday morning. Flooding is the second deadliest weather hazard in the United States after extreme heat, with most fatalities occurring when vehicles are swept away by rising waters.
Jim Vondruska/Getty Images
What To Know
In a Sunday update, the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office noted that hundreds of local, state, and national, first responders are carrying out search efforts via ground, air, and water.
“At present, there are over 400 first responders from more than 20 agencies at work in Kerr County. We have more than a dozen K9 units working in and near the river,” the office wrote in a Facebook post Sunday morning.
Kerr County is home to Kerrville, which was hit hardest by the floods, with local officials confirming 68 people died in the county from the floods. During a Sunday press conference, Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the toll, noting that statewide, there are 41 known missing people related to floods.
Abbott emphasized the state’s dedication to finding “every single one of the children who were at Camp Mystic, as well as anybody else and the entire riverbed.”
The state has deployed more than 1,300 personnel, and more than 900 vehicles and equipment assets in the search efforts.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Colonel Freeman Martin said during the Sunday press conference that there are 230 DPS personnel assigned to Kerr County. He confirmed DPS is providing 18 tactical marine units with boats, 11 Texas Rangers, 28 special operations members, nine helicopters with tactical flight officers, and cell towers for the search efforts.
On Sunday, Abbott noted that in addition to search-and-rescue members, the Lone Star State is working on the debris removal process, which “makes roads impassable, reconstruction projects unachievable, and makes search process more difficult.”
He stated that this effort has “improved, because of President [Donald] Trump’s swift declaration.” President Donald Trump issued a “Major Disaster Declaration” for the region, providing first responders access to more resources to continue their recovery efforts. In his social media post about the matter, he noted the Coast Guard’s role in saving hundreds of people’s lives in the region.
What People Are Saying
Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in a CNN interview Sunday: “I know they’re still searching for a lot of people, so we need to make sure that those in the boats and those in the helicopters have an unobstructed way to get to these places.”
Representative Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat, told CNN on Sunday: “Obviously the priority is on making sure that those girls are found and are saved —and anybody else who may be missing at this point—and then I think after that, we have to figure out in the future how we make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”
President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday: “I just signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need. These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing. The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders.”
Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said in an X, formerly Twitter, post on Sunday: “It’s a very sad time, but we have seen remarkable heroism from our first responders & volunteers. As rescue efforts continue, Texans remain unified in prayer.”
What Happens Next?
Abbott held a press briefing on Sunday that warned residents of the upcoming forecast of heavy rain and potential flash flooding. He warned about people driving during the conditions, urging people to be “extraordinarily cautious for the next 24 to 48 hours.”
“Turn around, don’t drown,” he said.
Lower Colorado River Authority General Manager Phil Wilson warned locals to “stay off the lakes,” noting the “saturation” of the ground during the Sunday press conference.
Update 7/6/25, 9:51 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and headline change.
Update 7/6/25, 4:30 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 7/6/25, 5:59 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
