Texas Flood Aftermath: Search Continues, Lawmakers Convene to Address Disaster Response

AUSTIN, Texas – The grim search for victims of the deadly Texas Hill Country floods is now in its third week, as officials continue efforts to pinpoint the exact number of individuals still missing from the devastating Fourth of July weekend disaster. With at least 135 confirmed fatalities, primarily along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, the focus has shifted to both ongoing recovery and a critical legislative response.

Approximately 100 people remain unaccounted for across affected counties, a number that has fluctuated as search teams recover victims and verify reports. The scale of destruction, particularly in areas like Camp Mystic, a century-old girls’ camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died, has underscored the region’s vulnerability to flash flooding.

In response, the Texas Legislature has convened a special session, with Governor Greg Abbott adding flood-related issues to the agenda. Lawmakers are poised to scrutinize authorities’ initial response to the floods and discuss vital improvements to warning systems, especially in areas like Kerr County, which currently lacks such infrastructure. Legislative priorities also include a proposed bill requiring the state’s top public health official to set building standards for youth camps in high-risk floodplains.

Special committees in both the House and Senate are actively addressing the crisis, with a joint hearing scheduled to examine the state’s flood response, planning, infrastructure, and emergency communications. Furthermore, a visit to Kerrville, the heart of the hardest-hit Kerr County, is planned for July 31st to gather direct input from residents, reinforcing the commitment to learn from this tragedy and prevent future loss.

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