Death toll reaches 132 as search for missing continues

With nearly 130 dead and an estimated 170 still missing, the search continues in Texas amid a renewed threat for flash flooding in already hard-hit areas in central Texas.

The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas has risen to at 132. This, as torrential rain prompted a Flash Flood Emergency and multiple Flash Flood Warnings over the weekend across parts of Central Texas, including Kerrville, already hard-hit by last week's deadly flooding.

The renewed flash flooding comes as crews continue to search trailer parks, cabins and mangled river debris for those still missing. The flooding, which struck just after 2 a.m. on July 4, remains one of the deadliest U.S. disasters for children in recent history. Officials have vowed to continue searching until every missing person is accounted for.

With each passing day, the odds of finding survivors grow smaller. But on muddy roads and debris-filled riverbanks, exhausted search crews are still working around the clock to bring closure to families waiting for answers.

Seven months' worth of rain fell in less than two hours, which caused the Guadalupe River to rise an astonishing 22 feet in just two hours at a gauge near Hunt where the river forks. Water levels rose to 29.5 feet before the gauge stopped transmitting data, potentially from being washed downstream by the ferocity of the floodwaters.

In addition to renewed flooding, typical July heat is bringing its own set of challenges. Blistering sun and humidity are making recovery efforts more physically demanding, especially during the peak midday hours.

The sun and heat can be brutal in Texas during July. Intense sunshine, high humidity and light winds drove drive RealFeel® Temperatures to near or above 100°F over the past few days.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump traveled to Kerrville Friday to survey the damage and meet with officials, first responders, and grieving families. Search and recovery efforts remained underway, with nearly 170 people still unaccounted for—most of them in Kerr County.

"I've never seen anything like this, and I've seen a lot of bad ones," Trump said as he toured the disaster zone. "It’s hard to believe the devastation."

Local officials confirmed additional bodies were recovered in Kerr and Travis counties ahead of Trump’s arrival. Among the missing is Burnet County Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Phillips, who disappeared one week ago while responding to a rescue call. His vehicle was recovered, but he has not been found.

Trump approved Texas’ request to expand the major disaster declaration beyond Kerr County to include eight additional counties, opening the door to federal financial aid for recovery and rebuilding.

Cleanup crews across Kerr County and surrounding communities have begun the slow, grueling work of clearing debris from streets, riverbanks and what’s left of homes and campsites. Bulldozers and volunteers are working side by side, hauling away twisted metal, tree limbs and shattered structures swept downstream by the floodwaters.

In neighborhoods like Hunt and Ingram, residents are returning to what remains — sifting through waterlogged belongings, pulling ruined drywall and salvaging what they can.

Questions mount as recovery continues

As recovery efforts continue, questions are beginning to surface about how local authorities responded to flood alerts issued ahead of the disaster. Flash flood watches and warnings were issued in central Texas hours in advance of the deadly flooding early Friday morning, although the most urgent weather alerts were sent in the middle of the night when many people in the area were sleeping.

Both AccuWeather and the National Weather Service issued urgent warnings as torrential rain moved into the region early on July 4. A flash flood watch was issued more than 12 hours in advance at 1:18 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 3. A flash flood warning was issued at 1:14 a.m. CDT on Friday, about three hours before the peak of the flooding occurred between 4 and 4:30 a.m. CDT, according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter.

But with many residents saying they received little to no direct communication from local officials, attention is now turning to whether more could have been done at the county level to mobilize and warn the public in time.

“We understand you have many questions,” said Texas Game Warden Ben Baker at a news conference. “Right now, our focus is on bringing people home.”

That sentiment was echoed by officials at multiple levels who, while emphasizing the scale and speed of the rescue effort, acknowledged that gaps in the system need review.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told reporters his team is still assembling a full timeline.

“That’s going to take a little bit of time,” he said. “Our priority is recovering victims, identifying bodies and notifying families.”

“I know that this tragedy, as horrific as it is, could have been so much worse,” said Sgt. Jonathan Lamb of the Kerrville Police Department.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have both called for improvements in early warning systems and flood preparedness, according to The New York Times, with Patrick noting that flood-warning signs should be in place by next summer.

Sheriff Larry Leitha of Kerr County echoed the need for review, saying during a Wednesday news conference, “If improvements need to be made, improvements will be made.”

Some families aren't waiting. Nicole Wilson, a San Antonio mother who pulled her daughters from a nearby camp just before the flood hit, has launched a petition urging Kerr County to install a siren system along the Guadalupe River.

“There wasn’t enough fight in them, and there needs to be more fight this time,” she told The Associated Press. “There simply can’t be the answer of ‘no’ this time.”

Texas strong

Amid the loss, a sense of resilience has taken root. In flooded towns like Kerrville, Hunt and Comfort, neighbors are helping neighbors, strangers are showing up with supplies, and a quiet strength is emerging.

While officials work behind the scenes, volunteers have stepped up. Local churches have become command centers. Restaurants are offering free meals. Cleanup crews, made up of friends and strangers, are navigating wreckage with wheelbarrows, trash bags and resolve.

Local churches, fire departments and even high school sports teams have mobilized to distribute supplies and assist elderly homeowners, while contractors and public works teams focus on restoring damaged roads and utilities. The emotional weight is heavy, but the work continues, hour by hour, block by block. Officials say full recovery will take months and even years. But for now, the goal is stabilization, safety and support.

In the midst of heartbreak, some of the most hopeful moments have come from the smallest survivors. Across Kerr County, animal rescue groups like Kerrville Pets Alive and Austin Pets Alive have been working nonstop to care for hundreds of displaced pets and reunite them with their owners.

"Our team is in flooded areas, providing medical care onsite and transporting animals to APA!. We will be working with Kerrville Pets Alive! over the next several days and, if possible, bringing more pets from the Kerr County and other shelters," Austin Pets Alive said on its website. "This will allow them to make space for the animals they are likely to see over the next few days and keep them closer to home."

Kerrville Pets Alive told CBS it's the hub for pet resources and recovery in Kerr County for the 40-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River. Even days after the flood, pets are still being found alive amid the debris, although some owners are facing heartbreaking decisions.

“People are coming back to a devastated home site, realizing they can't take care of their pets,” said Karen Guerriero with Kerrville Pets Alive.

Guerriero said the organization found a dog whose family was unaccounted for after the flood, but they were able to transport the dog to other family members in Houston, where other family members live.

"That was the only thing left from the family and just to be able to give that back to them. I hope that that is healing in some way," she said.

Austin Pets Alive said it has taken in around 350 cats and dogs from shelters in affected areas.

"We’ve pulled these animals so that local shelters can focus on helping animals in their communities directly impacted by the floodwaters," the organization posted on Instagram.

While some animals need rescuing, others are aiding in the search and rescue efforts in the wake of the deadly flooding.

Crews aiding in recovery and cleanup, as well as those who have lost houses to flooding, should try to limit physical activity during the hottest part of the day, stay hydrated, wear light-colored clothing and take frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas when possible. With RealFeel® Temperatures expected to top 100°F, heat-related illness remains a serious concern.

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