More than two weeks after catastrophic floods swept through Kerr County along the Guadalupe River, authorities say they have accounted for nearly everyone who was reported missing in the disaster’s immediate aftermath. As of Saturday, the number of people still unaccounted for has dropped to just three — a dramatic decline from the 101 reported missing earlier in the week.
The flooding, triggered by intense rainfall in the early morning hours of July 4, caused rapid and deadly swelling of the Guadalupe River, sweeping away vehicles, campers, and people across the popular Hill Country recreation area. The full extent of the devastation is still emerging, but state officials confirmed the overall Texas death toll stood at 135 as of Thursday, according to Governor Greg Abbott.
City officials in Kerrville credited the progress in locating missing persons to relentless cooperation between local, state, and national agencies. In a press release Saturday, the city stated that many individuals were found through “extensive follow-up work” — some discovered to be safe and simply out of communication in the chaotic aftermath.
“This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice.
Despite the progress, the search for those still missing continues — and could stretch on for months. “How long is it going to take? I mean, who knows?” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said during a county commissioners court meeting earlier this week. He noted that continued rain and lingering flood conditions have slowed recovery efforts in parts of the Hill Country.
Officials say much of the confusion in the early days following the floods stemmed from the nature of the July 4 holiday itself. Many people visiting the area for the long weekend were camping, staying in RVs, or visiting friends, with no formal check-ins at hotels or campsites. Governor Abbott explained that this made it difficult to determine who was actually missing, as many names were added to the list based on calls from concerned friends and family.
“Those who are missing on this list, most of them, were more difficult to identify because there was no record of them logging in anywhere,” Abbott said.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly emphasized that local officials still don’t have a complete picture of how many visitors were in the area at the time of the flooding.
“Don’t be discouraged when you hear that number,” Kelly said. “We’re doing the very best we can, but it is an unknown at this point.”
On Saturday, Kelly expressed deep gratitude to the emergency personnel who have worked around the clock to search for the missing and bring closure to families.
“To every member of law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency management, and supporting agencies — thank you,” Kelly said. “Your dedication, professionalism, and compassion have brought comfort and answers to so many."
Search teams have faced grueling conditions as they comb through debris fields and heavily damaged areas. In some cases, ongoing rainstorms have forced temporary pauses in the recovery work, frustrating efforts to locate those still missing. The process, experts say, will take time — and patience.
Lucy Easthope, an international disaster recovery adviser, said it’s typical for early missing persons numbers to fluctuate after major disasters. “Certainly, by the end of the first month, you've got a good idea of what you're looking for,” Easthope said. “And sometimes in flooding, we've seen the Earth only yield its final death toll some months, and maybe even years, later.”
In fact, similar confusion followed the 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, where early estimates of the missing topped 3,000, though the final death toll was confirmed at 102.
The July 4 Guadalupe River flood now ranks among the deadliest natural disasters in recent Texas history, with the death toll eclipsing that of many other major flood events. Only historic catastrophes like the 1900 Galveston hurricane and the 1921 San Antonio floods — which killed over 8,000 and 215 people respectively — surpass its toll.
As the recovery effort continues, officials urge patience, compassion, and continued support for the victims and their families.
