‘Devastating and deadly,’ Kerr Co. using ‘every asset’ in flood recovery efforts

KERR COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — In a media briefing Friday morning, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly confirmed multiple people are dead, several others are unaccounted for, and crews have made “dozens” of water rescues. He did not provide any specific numbers.

“Suffice it today this has been a very devastating and deadly flood,” Kelly said. He added that officials are having to fingerprint some deceased victims at the funeral home to identify them.

Various state and federal agencies are assisting in the recovery efforts, including the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), Texas Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Reunification centers are set up at Ingram Middle School and the Arcadia Theater in Kerrville.

‘Rest assured, no one knew this flood was coming’

Kelly addressed how the county is a flood-prone area and that it’s used to dealing with floods when it rains, but called this event “sudden,” “catastrophic,” and the worst he’s seen.

“We didn’t know this flood was coming. Rest assured, no one knew this flood was coming,” he said. “This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States. When it rains, we get water. We had no reason to believe this was going to happen here. Whatsoever.”

Kelly also said the county does “not have a warning system,” and the event happened in a very short window. Officials had been closely monitoring weather conditions all morning.

How to help

“What we need is cooperation,” Judge Kelly said.

He asked anyone willing and able to donate to coordinate with the American Red Cross crews in town.