Almost a month has passed since the devastating Fourth of July floods hit the Texas Hill Country, and the search for the missing has dwindled down to just two individuals. Per Gov. Greg Abbott's announcement on social media, shared by CBS Austin, one of the missing is a young girl who was at Camp Mystic, and the other is an unidentified adult male. Earlier in the day, officials recovered a missing woman's body in the Kerrville area.
According to News 4 San Antonio, the initial list of missing persons had drastically shrunk from around 100 to three, which includes the two still missing. "Most of them were tourists that came into town and left and went back home and didn’t report that they were there," said Judge Rob Kelly during a Kerr County Commissioners Court meeting, in an effort to account for everyone that has been described as "Herculean".
Tragically impacted by the floods was Camp Mystic, a venue where 27 individuals, including campers, counselors, and its executive director, lost their lives. Across Texas, families are in mourning, their grief shadowing what should have been a season of joyous tradition. Focus is now gradually turning towards reconstruction and recovery efforts, with calls being made for residents to seek assistance from FEMA. On the agenda in Kerrville is a potential property tax hike aimed at infrastructure repair, as noted by statements obtained by both CBS Austin and News 4 San Antonio.
State lawmakers in Austin are convening for a special session focused heavily on flood mitigation measures, including emergency communications and flood warning systems, reflecting a stark need realized in the wake of Kerr County's flood siren deficiency—a point that has sparked a drive for systemic changes. "Our search continues," Gov. Abbott concluded, reinforcing the state's determination to support the community as they confront the aftermath of this calamity.
