State reduces number of missing in Central Texas flooding from 161 to 101

The number of people believed to be missing in greater Kerr County includes 97 identified people, the governor says.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the number of people now believed to be missing in catastrophic flooding near Kerr County on July 4 is 97.

The governor shared the updated number from the Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday afternoon during a briefing on the state's response and ongoing search, rescue, and recovery efforts.

Last week, the governor said as many as 161 people were believed to be missing after the Guadalupe River rose 30 feet and swept through Kerr County, killing more than 130 people.

"Even though we are reporting 97 people missing, there's no certainty that all 97 of those people were swept away, swept away by the storm," Abbott said, adding that the goal of rescuers is still to recover the remains of anyone else killed by the storm. "For those who have passed away, it is so important to [provide] closure for their families that we find them and identify them."

The total number of people missing includes 97 people from the greater Kerrville area and four others from flooding elsewhere in the state. Officials have not released the names of those reported to be missing.

To date, 132 people have been confirmed to have died and another 101 are believed to be missing in the flooding. The latest numbers reported by the state included 106 killed in Kerr County, including 70 adults and 36 children, with 97 missing; nine killed and four missing in Travis County; five killed and one missing in Burnet County; eight killed in Kendall County; three killed in Williamson County; and one killed in Tom Green County.

On Monday, the governor toured the flooding damage in an impacted community in Leander, in Williamson and Travis counties. He also met with local first responders.

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In response to questions about what people can do to help the area recover from the deadly flood, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, a 501(c)(3) charity serving the Texas Hill Country, has established a relief fund to support vetted local response, relief and recovery efforts. Organizers said all donations go directly to organizations working on the front lines of the July 4 flooding emergency. All donations are tax-deductible, and you will receive a receipt for your gift. To learn more or donate, visit the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country here.