KERR COUNTY, Texas — At least 53 people have died in catastrophic flooding that swept through Kerr County, Texas early Friday morning, Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed.

Searchers continue to hunt for the missing and possible survivors.

The flooding particularly impacted Camp Mystic, a girls' summer camp with more than 750 children, where about 20 remain unaccounted for, according to Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is serving as acting governor. Patrick said parents who have not been personally contacted by the camp should assume their daughters are safe.

The rescue operation involves 14 helicopters, 500 personnel on the ground and multiple state and federal agencies, Patrick said. He urged people to stay away from the area and warned against unauthorized drone or helicopter flights that could interfere with rescue operations.

Kelly said no one anticipated the severity of the flooding.

"We didn't know this flood was coming. Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming," he said. "We had no reason to believe that this was going to be anything like what's happened here. None whatsoever."

Patrick said Texas Department of Emergency Management officials personally contacted local judges and mayors Thursday about potential flooding in the region.

The flooding began around 4 a.m. when rain fell at rates of 12 inches per hour, causing the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet in 45 minutes, Patrick said. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said the North and South Forks that feed into the Guadalupe hit peaks around 3 a.m., with water rising from normal levels to nearly bridge-high within two hours.

"The rain came down 12 inches or more per hour. Within 45 minutes, the Guadalupe River... rose 26 feet in 45 minutes," Patrick said. "It was a dry bed, had been dry. There wasn't a lot to absorb it."

The recovery effort has been complicated by the condition of some victims, with officials saying they are using fingerprints to identify some of the deceased. Patrick said the victims include both adults and children, some found in cars that were swept downstream.

"Some are adults, some are children," Patrick said. "Some in cars that were washed down upstream... We just obviously don't know where those bodies came from." (Source: WOAI)

Story Date: July 6, 2025