TEXAS (KXAN) — Friday marks day seven since flash floods in Central Texas killed more than 100 people.
As survivors begin recovery efforts, state and local emergency responders continue to search for missing people in several counties.
At least 129 deaths have been confirmed in six counties, as of Friday evening. A majority of those happened in Kerr County, where a total of 103 people have died; 67 adults and 36 children, according to county officials.
As of Thursday, 161 people were still missing in Kerr County alone. Overall, at least 166 people remain missing in the state.
Here’s what we know about some of the victims.
Here are the top headlines:
10 p.m. The San Gabriel River rose to record levels on July 5, which caused evacuations, death and destruction in Williamson County.
“That bottom building that metal building that is our home,” said Montana Perales, who lived along the river in Weir, which is in Williamson County.
Perales said it’s hard to think about the impact the flooding had on her family.
“It would have been over my head,” said Perales as she described how high the water got in her downstairs apartment. “It is devastating.”
9:15 p.m. George Strait announced on Instagram he is partnering with Vaqueros del Mar to hold a benefit concert for Hill Country flood victims on July 27 in Boerne, Texas.
The concert, “Strait to the Heart,” stars special guests William Beckmann, Ray Benson, Wade Bowen, Dean Dillon, Riley Green, Randy House and more.
“The destruction and loss in our community from the recent floods is hard to wrap your head around. Our hearts and prayers are with you all. The goal with this event is to raise meaningful, immediate support that can be put directly into the hands of flood victims without delay, while also honoring the first responders that work tirelessly to save lives,” Strait said.
Vaqueros del Mar is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, according to the post. Those interested in attending the concert can email vaquerosdm@gmail.com.
6:51 p.m. A week after devastating flash floods swept through Central Texas, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country announced that it has raised more than $30 million through the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and distributed $5 million in initial grants to support recovery efforts.
At least 120 people across six counties have been confirmed dead from the July 4 flooding, with 161 people still missing in Kerr County alone. Overall, at least 166 people remain missing statewide.
Austin Dixon, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, announced the first wave of funding during a press conference Friday morning.
“Over 100,000 individual donors have already made a gift online, by mail, by phone, and most meaningfully to us in person, by just showing up at our office to support the fund,” Dixon said.
6:50 p.m. Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B has earned the nickname “FEMA of Texas” thanks to its immediate and thorough response to catastrophic floods that struck the state the weekend of July 4.
The grocer started responding to disaster relief efforts within 24 hours of the floods hitting. On the morning of Saturday, July 5, H-E-B posted on X that its team was “staying close to the hardest-hit areas & we will continue to provide support as these tragic situations evolve.”
H-E-B started going viral across different social media platforms for its near-instant response. One Facebook post said, “We don’t need to wait on FEMA… we’ve got H-E-B.” Several TikTok videos showing H-E-B Disaster Relief trucks deployed the day after the floods have garnered millions of views.
A company spokesperson said H-E-B prioritizes disaster relief because “it’s important to us for Texans to take care of Texans, and that’s who we are.”
6:45 p.m. The Austin Firefighters Association has delivered a vote of no confidence in the Austin Fire Department’s chief, following accusations by top union leadership he delayed emergency response to deadly flooding in the Texas Hill Country.
According to a post on the union’s social media account on Friday evening, “an overwhelming 93% of Austin firefighters (927 votes) cast a vote of no confidence in Fire Chief Joel G. Baker. Only 4% (36 votes) opposed.”
The post went on to say, “This is not about politics. It’s about accountability and protecting public safety.”
Earlier this week, the union began voting on a resolution, which stated “The Association hereby declares that Chief Joel G. Baker has forfeited our confidence to lead the Austin Fire Department.” The resolution also called for the Austin City Manager, mayor and city council to thoroughly investigate the chief’s decisions and take “appropriate measures.
5:20 p.m. The Williamson County Office of Emergency Management said on social media Gov. Greg Abbott announced Williamson County was added to the updated Presidential Disaster Declaration after the July 5 flood.
“Residents can now apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at http://DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-3362.”
In another social media post, the emergency management said the Williamson County Commissioners Court “approved the extension of its local state of disaster for an additional 60 days during a special meeting on Friday, July 11.”
Additionally, commissioners approved up to $200,000 in landfill vouchers that will assist with flood clean-up. To learn more about the vouchers, visit the county website.
5:15 p.m. Austin-Travis County EMS said on social media it updated its “current deployed personnel and assets in support of statewide response to the flood events.”
ATCEMS medics said the Texas EMFT website “has definitions of these technical positions and a brief description of their responsibilities.”
4:20 p.m. A 75-year-old man believed to be swept away by floods in Leander allegedly died on his property prior to the flooding event that happened on July 5, according to Leander Police Department Assistant Chief Billy Fletcher.
He said Jay Dunn “was initially believed to have been swept away in the flood waters near his home on County Road 177.” However, on July 9, “a coordinated multi-agency search was conducted employing cadaver dogs, dive teams to carefully examine a significant portion of Brushy Creek in its banks” near Dunn’s home.
“During the search, investigators discovered evidence indicating Mr. Dunn may have passed away on the property prior to the flooding event. At this time, we don’t believe that Mr. Dunn’s death was caused by the flood waters, and no foul play is suspected at this time. This is still under investigation,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher, along with other city leaders, spoke during a news conference to provide updates, as well as efforts to recover from those floods.
Watch the full news conference from city officials in Leander in the video player above
Aubury Holmes, emergency management coordinator, said starting around 1:20 a.m., the city of Leander was notified of a large storm cell by Williamson County. He said an emergency operation center was set up around 1:45 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. that day.
Additionally, he said city police, fire and public works departments all responded to road closure calls, house fires, water rescues, citizen evacuations and power outages.
“Over the next few days, the city also conducted several searches for reported flood victims along the San Gabriel River and Brushy Creek. In addition, city staff have worked to organize debris clean-up and supply distribution for residents affected by the flood waters,” Holmes said. “We have also assisted Travis County officials in body recovery efforts.”
Billy Wusterhausen, fire chief for the city, said the agency was notified of the flash flood conditions and responded to its first water rescue around 2 a.m.
Around 3 a.m., he said a car drove around some barricades off of County Road 279 and swept into the San Gabriel River.
A boat team and water techs were deployed to rescue two people in the car, but a boat hit an object.
“That water is very rough, very swift and also has a lot of debris in it,” Wusterhausen said.
He said two technicians were able to get behind the boat and into a safe area, while the the third, a lieutenant, was swept downstream and used his training and skills to get out of the water. The lieutenant was able to “make contact with the two victims in the vehicle.”
“We were successfully able to get all 3 personnel and the two victims out of [the river],” Wusterhausen said.
4:15 p.m.
President Donald Trump spoke about the loss of life as a result of the flooding while surrounded by state and city leaders in Kerrville on Friday.
“Dozens and dozens of precious children taken from us. It’s terrible,” he said during a news conference at the roundtable.
Watch the full news conference with President Donald Trump, along with city and state leaders above
After surveying the damage, Trump said, “I had never seen anything like it. A little narrow river that becomes a monster.”
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in San Antonio at Kelly Field Air Base just after noon on Friday. They then boarded Marine 1 to fly to Kerrville.
2:27 p.m. P. Terry’s Burger Stand announced on social media that it raised $150,000 to support flood relief efforts across Central Texas and the Hill Country. On Thursday, P. Terry’s donated 100% of its profits from all 36 locations to Austin Disaster Relief.
2:09 p.m. A Flood Watch has been issued for San Saba County from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon.
12:50 p.m. KXAN’s Avery Travis and Will DuPree spoke with Jayne Zirkel, who’s the marketing and events manager with the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.
Zirkel’s organization is helping those impacted by the floods, and she speaks on how people can get involved in their work.
Use the video player below to listen to the discussion.
12:30 p.m. KXAN’s Avery Travis and Will DuPree speak with Sari Vatske, the CEO for the Central Texas Food Bank. She shares how the organization is providing food for people impacted by the floods, as well as list the locations of its emergency distribution spots.
Use the video player below to listen to the discussion.
12:00 p.m. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive in Texas at Kelly Field Air Base in San Antonio.
11:33 a.m. The City of Leander said it would hold a news conference at 3 p.m. to provide updates on emergency response, overall conditions of the city and parks, resources for those affected by the flood, debris management, and other issues related to the flooding.
11:19 a.m. The Texas Department of Transportation has been making road repairs in the area following flooding, but some repairs will take longer than others.
Check road conditions at DriveTexas and low water crossings at AtxFloods.
11:09 a.m. The Burnet County Community Center opened Friday morning for people seeking resources.
The center is located at 401 E. Jackson St. in Burnet, Texas.
Located at the community center are tables for volunteers from Arkham Highland Lakes, Bluebonnet Trails, Texas Housing Foundation, H-E-B and the American Red Cross.
People looking to help can call 770-354-5610.
10:00 a.m. Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Friday that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission launched the Texas Flooding Emotional Support Line.
The crisis support line is available 24/7 and provides professional crisis counseling at no cost by calling 833-812-2480.
All calls are confidential and answered by specially trained professionals to work with disaster survivors, according to the press release.
9:02 a.m. The neighborhood near the Big Sandy Creek Bridge planned a meeting for Friday. The meeting’s sign included a note of: “Only neighbors welcome. NO ‘OFFICIALS.’”
8:40 a.m. Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) request that additional counties be added to President Trump’s major disaster declaration related to the July 4 flooding.
According to the press release, the five counties requested to be eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) individual assistance program include Burnet, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson.
Abbott’s press office said four counties, Kendall, Kimble, Menard, and San Saba, were requested to be eligible for FEMA’s public assistance program.
8:20 a.m. KXAN reporter Mercedez Hernandez said the Task Force for search and rescue was at the bridge in Big Sandy Creek. The bridge is currently only open to foot traffic.
7:48 a.m. Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle provided the following statement related to Leander’s flood response in the Sandy Creek area.
At 2:00 am Saturday morning, Leander Fire was called in to assist with water rescues at Sandy Creek in Travis County. Our teams rushed in without hesitation and performed multiple rescues that day: from Sandy Creek itself, to evacuations in Williamson County, to a dangerous Liberty Hill rescue that nearly claimed the lives of three of our own. We also opened our Travisso fire station as a staging area for Travis County crews and hosted state rescue teams at our headquarters. Our responders acted with the bravery and compassion that defines Leander.
For days, I believed we were still assisting Travis County because that is the protocol for disasters in the state of Texas and what we always do. Leander shows up. We sent crews to Hurricane Harvey, the West explosion, wildfires in East Texas. Wherever help is needed, we go. I never imagined Travis County would turn away our help. But that is what happened.
I’ve only recently learned that after the initial rescues, Travis County began denying us access and asking our teams to stand down. Our staff wanted to go in, but they followed protocol. Travis County is the jurisdiction in charge, and they chose to refuse not only our, but other jurisdictions’ assistance. If I had known, I would have moved mountains to change that response by calling county officials directly or by publicly demanding action.
I am devastated for the families who waited in anguish. In repeating my understanding that we were assisting, I inadvertently added to their pain. For that, I am deeply sorry.
In reviewing Travis County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, I found that while Sandy Creek was marked as a flood risk on a map, it was never specifically identified for mitigation efforts. There was no plan to reduce the danger there. I don’t know how such an area could be overlooked, but it is unacceptable.
Yesterday, the state deployed an 80-member TDEM team to assist, but even they have told us to stay out. We are told we may be allowed back in for cleanup in a few days. I do not understand why Leander has been denied access to so much of this tragedy. Sandy Creek is part of our community, and we would have gladly taken command.
Leander will always be ready to help. Our people stand willing at a moment’s notice. I will continue to push for answers, because the families of Sandy Creek deserve justice and they deserve to know that their community was ready to stand with them, even when others stood in the way.
Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle
7:35 a.m. CapMetro Access buses at Round Mountain Baptist Church
7:30 a.m. KXAN photojournalist Todd Bailey and reporter Mercedez Hernandez reported on recovery efforts along Windy Valley Road in the Sandy Creek area.
6:04 a.m. This afternoon, KXAN will speak with a representative with the Central Texas Food Bank to discuss its newest emergency distribution locations to help those affected by flooding.
5:11 a.m. In addition to the restaurants that provided 100% of their profits to relief efforts on Thursday, Torchy’s Tacos announced it would donate a dollar of every taco sold in July.
Doc’s Backyard Grill and Waterloo Ice House also said it would have a flood relief fundraising event at all locations today.
GOOD HOPE, Ala. – Good Hope High School will hold its pageants on Saturday, March…
Right at the end of Resident Evil Requiem, you’re presented with a choice to seal…
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) - As Black History Month comes to a close, the Abilene community…
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) - For the third year in a row, Abilene Flying Bison fans…
KINGSTON, Wash. — On Friday afternoon, President Trump ordered every federal agency to stop using…
Today: Buying Market or Marketplace domains in .com – Budget: Up to $1,000 / Looking…
This website uses cookies.