AUSTIN (KXAN) — After the devastating July 4 flood that happened in Kerr County, Texas, the Kerr County Flood Disaster Joint Information Center confirmed Saturday that only three people remain missing, according to the city of Kerrville.
This comes after the city said in a news release that many people who were initially reported as missing were verified safe and removed from the list.
“This has been an ongoing effort as investigators worked diligently to verify reports of missing persons and confirm their status,” the city said.
In a July 16 update, Kerr County officials said at least 107 people, including 37 children, were killed in Kerr County. In a July 14 update, Gov. Greg Abbott said 97 people were known to be missing in the “greater Kerrville area.”
By Saturday, Kerville officials announced the number of missing people in Kerr County dropped from more than 160 to three, the release said.
“We are profoundly grateful to the more than 1,000 local, state, and federal authorities who have worked tirelessly in the wake of the devastating flood that struck our community,” Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said in the release. “Thanks to their extraordinary efforts, the number of individuals previously listed as missing has dropped from over 160 to three.”
The city of Kerrville said it worked with the Texas Department of Public Safety to verify the status of each individual reported missing.
“This process takes time, but it is essential to ensure that every lead is thoroughly followed and each person is properly accounted for,” said Kerrville Police Department Public Information Officer Jonathan Lamb. “We understand how critical it is to report this information accurately—not only for the families affected but for the integrity of our emergency response as a whole.
“While the updated figure offers some relief, searchers remain focused on reuniting the three individuals who are still unaccounted for with their families. State and local officials continue to work with urgency and care to locate them, while supporting affected communities through the ongoing recovery process,” Lamb said.
At least 135 people were killed in the catastrophic flash flooding across Texas, with the majority of the deaths confirmed in Kerr County.
Deaths were confirmed in six counties overall, with four still missing in Travis County. Other deaths and people missing were confirmed in Kendall, Burnet, Williamson, and Tom Green counties.
As for Kerrville, officials said recovery operations continued throughout the Guadalupe River Saturday.
“Our thoughts remain with the families still awaiting news, and we will continue to stand with them as efforts persist,” Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. said in the release.
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