At least 95 people have been confirmed dead in the devastating Kerr County flooding, visibly emotional Texas officials announced in a grim update Wednesday.
Of those who died, 59 are adults and 36 are children.
At least 161 people are still missing in the county — including five girls from Camp Mystic, where at least 27 campers and counselors have died, said Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha.
Sheriff Larry Leitha’s team delivered the grim update on Wednesday morning. Reuters“The recent numbers reported break my heart, and they break the heart of everyone up here, everyone who has been working since July the Fourth,” Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. told reporters, choking up as he thanked the responders and community for their help in the recovery efforts.
At least 111 people across the state were killed in the historic flooding, and that number is expected to rise as the search for victims enters its sixth day.
Officials asked local residents to withhold from using heavy equipment to clear large piles of debris from their properties until the piles have been checked by a search party.
“It’s possible there could be victims in there, and we don’t want to disturb them,” Kerrville police community services officer Jonathan Lamb said.
Map of Camp Mystic in Texas showing flood damage and distances from the Guadalupe River. Falon Wriede / NY Post DesignTensions were high at the press conference, with frustration mounting as local officials have been unable to answer questions about how they prepared for and responded to the July 4 flash flood.
Mayor Herring called out reporters present for yelling at officials during Tuesday’s update on the tragedy — which he called a “disaster” and “embarassing.”
Follow The Post’s coverage on the deadly Texas flooding
- Camp Mystic survivors heard screams in the dark as floodwaters hit hours earlier than previously thought
- Camp Mystic co-owner waited 45 minutes to evacuate campers after getting urgent ‘life-threatening’ flash floods alert
- Texas flood volunteers ordered to evacuate as heavy rainfall expected to strike devastated region
- Texas family mourns 8-year-old daughter confirmed dead in Camp Mystic flood disaster
When some reporters began raising their voices at the same time on Wednesday, he snapped.
“Listen, people are yelling,” he said.
First responders recover a body from floodwaters in Texas. APOne reporter began to protest that Herring only offered to answer three questions, but the mayor spat back: “Guess what, you’re in Kerrville, and we’re going to do it my way.”
The Guadalupe River surged some 26 feet in just 45 minutes early Friday morning when most of the people in the area were asleep.
When questioned about when the county’s Code Red was activated, Sheriff Leitha declined to comment — but said he would answer all questions once the community moves beyond the original aftermath.
Search and Rescue operators have been searching for the missing in Texas since the floods ripped through the community. AFP via Getty Images“I believe those questions need to be answered, to the family of the missed loved ones, to the public, you know, to the people that put me in this office,” Leitha said. “I want that answer, and we’re going to get that answer.”
“We’re not running, we’re not going to hide from anything that’s going to be checked into at a later time,” he added.
Code Red is a web-based system that alerts citizens by email or on their cell phones — but some areas in Kerr County are known for spotty cell service, KHOU reported.
The catastrophic flooding is one of the deadliest events for US children in the past 100 years.Of those confirmed dead, 27 had attended Camp Mystic — and all-girls Christian summer camp located on the river bank.
