“Texas is grateful for the outpouring of support,” the governor said on Tuesday, as recovery efforts continue.
SAN ANTONIO — The aftermath of the Hill Country floods – one of Texas’ worst natural disasters in years – sparked an outpouring of help that continues to come to places like Kerr County, where at least 107 people died when the Guadalupe River rose to historic levels before sunrise on July Fourth.
That help has come from literal next-door neighbors, other Texas counties and even international allies. Resources and support have also arrived from more than half the U.S. states, which Gov. Greg Abbott has noted in nearly daily posts on X.
In another post on Tuesday afternoon, Abbott listed each of those states and what they’ve contributed to ongoing search and recovery operations, from Black Hawk helicopters and boat squads to K-9 search teams and aerial equipment crews. The resources came from coast to coast, including Democratic strongholds like California and New York, along with neighbors Oklahoma and Arkansas.
“Texas is grateful for the outpouring of support from our fellow Americans across the country as we continue to recover and rebuild after the devastating floods,” Abbott said in a press release. “The bravery and generosity of these emergency teams played a vital role in our mission to save lives and help our communities begin the road to recovery.”
Search efforts continue along the Guadalupe more than two weeks after fast-moving floodwaters hit Kerr County communities, where officials say three people are still missing after the tally dropped dramatically over the weekend.
More than 1,000 first responders from the local, state and federal levels have been active in Kerr County ever since, bolstered by the efforts of more than 12,000 volunteers wanting to help. Officials in Kerr County are reminding those impacted by the floods to apply for FEMA disaster relief to connect with resources as they look to get back on their feet.
Meanwhile, flood warnings and preparation plans are expected to be discussed at a special session of the Texas Legislature which began this week. Lawmakers are set to hold hearings specifically on the flooding disaster starting Wednesday, though it’s still unclear who will go to Austin to answer questions.