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Gov. Abbott, officials provide update, 80 confirmed dead in Texas flood

Search efforts continue; officials vow to find everyone missing
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UPDATE: 2:30 p.m.

Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials provide an update on the Texas floods:

WATCH: Gov. Abbott provides update on deadly Hill Country Flooding

UPDATE: Sunday 12:25 p.m.

President Donald Trump has signed a major disaster declaration for Texas following deadly flooding in Kerr County, he announced 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,” Trump said in a post on social media Sunday morning.

UPDATE: Sunday 10:40 a.m.

Travis County officials provide updates on the flooding:

UPDATE: Hill Country death toll jumps to 59 people, 11 campers still missing

UPDATE: Sunday 10 a.m.

Kerr County officials hosted a conference and update on the rescue and recovery efforts in the area. They confirmed the death toll has risen to 59, with 11 campers from Camp Mystic still unaccounted for.

“We extend our sincerest condolences and prayers for every single family affected by this tragedy, and we continue to work around the clock and reunite these families,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said. “We will continue to search, our search efforts until everybody is found.”

UPDATE: Saturday 8 p.m.
The official death toll has jumped to 43 people; 28 adults and 15 children. Among those, 12 adults and five children are unidentified.

The 27 girls from Camp Mystic are still missing.

Officials warned that many more people could still be unaccounted for, noting that visitors to the area for the Fourth of July weekend makes it difficult to assess an exact number of people unaccounted for.

UPDATE: Saturday 3:40 p.m.
The Kerr County Sheriff says the death toll has risen to 32 people, including 14 children. At least five adults and three children's remains are unidentified.

There are at least 27 people still missing.

PRESS CONFERENCE: Saturday 2:40 p.m.
Watch the press conference with officials and Gov. Greg Abbott here:

Kerr County sheriff says flooding death toll up to 32, including 14 children

UPDATE: Saturday 10:30 a.m.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha said in a morning news conference that crews have recovered the bodies of at least 27 people, including nine children. Additionally, more than 850 families have been evacuated or rescued.

“We’re unable to release any further information on deceased at this time as our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones,” Leitha said. “We are working hard to locate anyone who is still missing and ensure they are safe.”

According to CNN, search and rescue operations continued through the evening Friday and overnight into Saturday. Crews are using specialized equipment, including helicopters, trying to identify any heat sources in the flooded area, Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said.

“We did start boots-on-ground operations about 8 a.m. [9 a.m. ET] this morning, and started about southwest of Hunt, so southwest of Camp Mystic,” Rice said. “These folks will be traveling very difficult terrain, up through Ingram, and we’re going to start getting information.”

UPDATE: 9:15 p.m:

Gov. Greg Abbott addressed media with the latest on relief efforts in Kerr County. He confirmed the death toll rising to 24, vowing to find all those missing. He declared a emergency declaration for multiple counties include Kerr County.

Other officials were a part of the press conference including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha.

Officials said during the press conference there were 237 rescues, and between 23-24 campers are still missing from Camp Mystic, but otherwise, an unknown number of people are still unaccounted for.

Officials said more than a thousand state officials are helping in "search and rescue" efforts day and night. Agencies like Texas DPS and Texas Game Wardens are an active part of the efforts while "leaning" on federal support if needed.

Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. thanking law enforcement for their efforts and asking the community to "please pray."

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.:
At least 13 people are dead, and more than 20 girls attending a summer camp, Camp Mystic in Hunt, are unaccounted for, as search teams conducted boat and helicopter rescues in the fast-moving flood water.

According to the National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio, the Guadalupe River, which runs alongside Camp Mystic, rose more than 20 feet in about 90 minutes overnight.

“Guadalupe River at Hunt continues to rise sharply and has reached 2nd highest height on record, higher than the 1987 flood,” the agency said on X Friday morning. “This is a very dangerous and life-threatening flood event along the river. Move to higher ground!”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a press conference earlier today that the White House has called several times, saying President Trump has made sure the message was sent that "whatever we need, we will have," he said.

Gov. Greg Abbott is holding a press conference Friday at 9 p.m. in Kerrville regarding the deadly flooding Kerr County is experiencing.

The governor will be joined by Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd, Adjutant General of Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer, Texas DPS Col. Freeman Martin and local officials.

UPDATED STORY:
Volunteers with Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief (SBTC Disaster Relief) are preparing to help residents in the Kerrville area.

SBTC DR Director Scottie Stice said they are working with First Baptist Church, Kerrville to place a feeding unit there that can provide meals and water.

“These devastating floods have affected so many in the area,” Stice said. “We are here to provide hope in the recovery process and remind people that they are not alone.”

Stice indicated that SBTC DR will work in the area as long as needed.

ORIGINAL STORY:

According to CNN, a sudden and dangerous flood wave surged through the Guadalupe River on Friday morning, causing multiple fatalities and prompting urgent warnings from weather and local officials.

According to the National Weather Service, a “large and deadly flood wave” developed along the river — which stretches from Kerr County to San Antonio Bay — leading to rapid and extreme rises in water levels along various points.

Near Comfort, Texas, the river surged from approximately 3 feet to nearly 30 feet between 9:00 and 9:45 a.m. CDT, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that several people died as a result of the flooding.“We can confirm fatalities, but will not release further information until next of kin are notified,” the department posted on social media.

Authorities are urging residents in affected areas to avoid the river and remain alert for continued flooding risks as the wave moves downstream.

Emergency response efforts are ongoing.