More than 160 people remain missing after flash floods in Kerr County.
CENTER POINT, Texas — The Guadalupe River has returned to safer levels five days after a powerful flash flood swept through Kerr County, but the scene in Center Point remains anything but normal. Debris lines the riverbanks, and more than 160 people are still reported missing, according to local officials.
As the sun set Monday evening, the water beneath the Lion’s Park Dam flowed calmly once again. But remnants of the flood’s devastation remain visible in the surrounding area — toppled trees, scattered wood, and even a destroyed home.
Gavin Walston, a local resident, was among the first to witness the river’s rapid transformation early Friday morning, July 4. He drove from his home a few miles away to document the rising waters near the bridge in Center Point.
“We had warnings for heavy rain and flash floods,” Walston said. “But they didn’t anticipate it being as strong as it was.”
He recorded more than 30 minutes of surging water as the river rose over 20 feet, carrying massive cypress trees, debris and even a house. Walston stopped filming only when conditions became too dangerous.
“I wanted to capture everything as it was,” he said. “And not distract from it.”
Now, volunteers like Elijah Warner and his friend Sage have joined local efforts to comb through debris in search of possible victims. Warner, who drove in from San Antonio, brought equipment including a chainsaw to assist with clearing riverbeds.
“Right now we’re clearing all of the wood out of this riverbed so we can try and find as many people as possible,” Warner said. “This is Texas. We all come together here.”
Working alongside the local fire department, Warner and others are rechecking previously searched areas with the help of search dogs. On Monday, one of the dogs indicated a possible body beneath a dense pile of driftwood and debris. A deputy stood by as volunteers began to dig.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether human remains were recovered. Search and recovery operations are expected to continue throughout the week as crews work to assess the full extent of the flood’s impact.