By Kayleen Holder and KK Calame
Editor and Publisher
Our neighbors in Kerr County suffered the brunt of the catastrophic flooding that occurred from heavy rains falling overnight into Friday, July 4. The widespread damage and gut-wrenching losses caught the attention of the Nation as daylight began to show the devastation fully. Entire families and so many bright, young children were cruelly swept away in the floodwaters and later found deceased (with many more still missing).
On Monday, July 6th, the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office announced they had recovered 68 deceased in Kerr County, but that number has sadly grown to 84 deceased in the last 24 hours.
“As of 2 p.m., 84 deceased have been recovered in Kerr County, including 56 adults and 28 children. Identification is pending for 22 adults and 10 children. At present, 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for,” the sheriff’s office stated in an update July 7th. “We share our deepest condolences with all affected by this tragedy.”
News sources have stated there have been 108 deaths across six counties affected by the flood.
Camp Mystic, where so many children lost their lives, is located in the small community of Hunt, Texas along the steep banks of the Guadalupe River. There were over 750 staying at that camp.
Local Sheriff Randy Brown is among the many first responders continuing the search.
“We have been busy, and busy is good….because when we stop we feel the pain of all those people, and it hurts like hell,” Sheriff Brown said, in a difficult statement this past Tuesday.
Initial reports indicated the Guadalupe River crested at 39 feet+, surpassing the county’s second biggest flood in modern times which occurred in 1987, according to a press release by Kerr County. The National Weather Service later reported that the flood gauge in Hunt had a crest of 37.2 ft surpassing the recorded record of 36.6 ft set July 2 of 1932. The third highest crest was 28.4 set July 17, 1987, according to the NWS.
The raging Guadalupe which was at less than a ft according to guages, rose over 33 feet in the darkness overnight.
The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office notes, “We know there are many people concerned and affected by this tragic situation. Please be careful about social media rumors and misinformation. False information can cause pain to families and those already devastated by this event.”
On Monday, a search and rescue helicopter collided with a privately operated drone. Thankfully the pilots were not injured, but were forced to make an emergency landing. Over and over officials have emphasized the importance of standing back and letting first responders do their job.
On July 6, FEMA was activated following President Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration. According to a press release by Homeland Security, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) is also working around the clock on search and rescue operations.
“Today, USCG continues to fly two helicopters in the Llano, Texas area and is assisting with two helicopters and three C-144 airplanes equipped with thermal cameras to find more survivors. 850 people have been rescued,” the July 6 statement says.
In awe of the way Texans take care of others, Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem, stated in a press conference to Texans….”You are an example to the nation of getting through difficult times, but I want you to also know, you are not alone.”
Patrick DuBose, of Devine, was one of the many heroes who responded to the scene.
Amidst the widespread damage, teams of volunteers were also called upon in the beginning to assist in search and rescue efforts downstream. When Centerpoint Volunteer Fire Department issued a plea for volunteers to help with search and rescue in their area, the Kuykendalls, Jennifer Savage and John Gorham, of Devine, along with family members Gary and Trace Savage were among the volunteers who answered the call.
“The devastation is unbelievable,” Ms. Savage said in the days that followed. “But so is the love that’s there. The Holy Spirit is there.”
“It is so much different than what the pictures show you, you can’t express it with words,” Savage added. “Center point really needed the help badly, and I called my brother and we started packing at 10 o’ clock that night. We were up there by 7:30 that morning and we walked the river banks until 3:30 that day. They gave us direction and told us where to search. It was in an area where a cadaver dog had alerted,” Savage said, noting that sadly, the next group after them did recover a deceased child.
Kimi and Kenny Kuykendall, of Devine were also among volunteers assisting that day. When they arrived, they bumped into locals Eugene Rodriguez and Eugene Sanchez as well.
“The volunteers were separated into groups of 20,” Kuykendall said. “Each group had active duty or prior military personnel. We were assigned a mile along the banks to go through. Each group lined up and walked and searched one way and then we turned around and searched the same area back.”
“All the brush that was washed downstream and piled up,” Kuykendall said. “We saw kayaks, car doors, mattresses, clothes, toys, totes, and many dead animals.”
According to Governor Abbott’s office, the State of Texas has deployed more than 1,000 state responders and more than 800 vehicles and equipment assets, and more than 15 state agencies are currently responding to the flooding threat across the state.
“This is a time when we, as a state, need God more than ever,” said Governor Abbott. “The one thing I hear the most are the prayers that are being sent for those who are in harm’s way. There is an extraordinary collaboration to make sure that we address everybody’s concern as quickly as possible. As part of this, I am signing a disaster declaration to ensure counties have access to every tool, strategy, and personnel that the State of Texas can provide to them, which will be limitless.”
Individuals who sustained losses in the designated areas should first file claims with their insurance providers and then apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, provide FEMA the number for that service.
