In the wake of the devastating Hill Country floods, Texas officials have confirmed at least 109 deaths and reported 161 people still missing. The disaster, which struck on July 4, has become one of the deadliest floods in state history — second only to the catastrophic 1921 San Antonio flood.
Governor Greg Abbott visited the flood-affected zones on Tuesday and vowed, “We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for.” Among those missing are five children and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a historic Christian summer retreat near the Guadalupe River, along with a local child unaffiliated with the camp. The camp’s longtime director, Richard “Dick” Eastland, is among the dead.
Until recently, only 25 people had been reported missing. Officials now say the true scale of the tragedy is becoming clearer as rescue crews work across rugged terrain covering more than 60 miles.
The Texas Game Wardens reported having to sift through layers of mud and wreckage, using excavators and other heavy equipment to navigate debris-laden riverbanks. “We’re having to go layer by layer to make these recoveries,” said Ben Baker of the Game Wardens. First responder Tanner Jacobs, part of the governor’s recovery strike team, said the slow pace of discoveries suggests more victims may still be buried beneath piles of debris.
Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. praised the outpouring of support, saying nearly 1,000 first responders and volunteers have joined the search and relief efforts. “These are trained professionals doing a grim job,” he said.
As attention shifts toward accountability and future prevention, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick criticized the absence of warning sirens and called for immediate state action. “Had we had sirens like those in Israel, some of these lives may have been saved,” Patrick told Fox News. Senator Paul Bettencourt has pledged to introduce legislation for a statewide emergency siren system for flood-prone regions.
Governor Abbott confirmed that state legislative committees will begin investigating the response and prevention strategies ahead of a special session starting July 21. However, he discouraged finger-pointing, stating, “Championship teams don’t point fingers. They find solutions.”
President Donald Trump is expected to visit the area on Friday to assess damage estimated between $18 and $22 billion in economic losses.
While federal officials defended the accuracy of weather forecasts, local leaders admitted funding concerns and community resistance to early warning systems. With survivors still missing and questions mounting, Texas faces a long road to recovery — and reckoning.
