Austin – Following a severe flood on July 4 in Kerr County, Texas, officials in Carrville have reported that only three individuals remain missing as of Saturday. This update comes after many of the initially reported missing persons were found safe and subsequently removed from the list.
“It’s been a continuous process as our team worked hard to verify the reports and confirm everyone’s status,” the city stated in a release.
As of the July 16 update, there have been at least 107 fatalities reported in Kerr County, including the tragic loss of 37 children. On July 14, Texas Governor Greg Abbott indicated that approximately 97 people were still unaccounted for in the “Great Carville area.”
By Saturday, Carrville officials noted a decrease in the number of individuals reported missing, down from an initial count of 160. City Manager Dalton Rice expressed deep appreciation: “We’re incredibly thankful for the more than 1,000 local, state, and federal authorities who worked around the clock in response to the devastating floods. Their remarkable actions have brought the missing count down significantly.”
The city plans to collaborate with the Texas Department of Public Safety to assess the statuses of those reported as missing.
“While this process can be lengthy, it’s crucial for every lead to be thoroughly examined, ensuring each case is handled appropriately,” explained Jonathan Lamb, spokesperson for the Kerrville Police Department. He emphasized the importance of precise reporting for the sake of affected families and the overall emergency management effort.
“The decreased numbers provide a bit of relief, but our focus remains on reuniting families with the three individuals who are still unaccounted for. Local and state officials are taking urgent, yet careful, steps to locate them while also supporting the communities affected during this ongoing recovery,” Lamb added.
Overall, over 135 fatalities have been attributed to the catastrophic flash floods in Texas, with the majority occurring in Kerr County. Six counties have reported deaths, while four individuals remain missing in Travis County. Other fatalities and missing persons have been confirmed in Kendall, Burnett, Williamson, and Tom Green counties.
Concerning Carrville, authorities stated that recovery operations will persist on Saturday, focusing on the Guadalupe River. Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. commented, “We acknowledge that families are still awaiting news, and we will continue to stand with them as our efforts move forward.”
