Search and rescue teams continue their efforts in Kerr County following catastrophic floods.
KERR COUNTY, Texas — Search and rescue organizations, alongside thousands of volunteers, are still combing through debris in Kerr County more than a week after deadly flooding devastated the Texas Hill Country. The widespread destruction has prompted Governor Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session, set to begin July 21, with flood recovery and prevention at the top of the agenda.
Patrick Turck, program director for the Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR), described the devastation as overwhelming
“The amount of damage and destruction down here, you can’t even put it into words. And I’ve seen a lot. Um, this is bad,” Turck said.
TEXSAR teams are currently working through massive piles of debris left behind by the floodwaters.
“We’re currently working on a debris pile that’s about a quarter mile long, about 200 feet wide, and at one point… was about 25 feet tall,” Turck explained.
The disaster has reignited debate among lawmakers about Texas’ flood preparedness and warning infrastructure. State Representative Christian Manuel of District 22 said stronger communication systems could have made a critical difference.
“I think having sirens in rural Texas, an advanced weather program… would have basically given at the very least, two hours of notice,” Manuel said. “And if they would have been off, it would have been by 1 to 3 inches of rain.”
Manuel noted that similar legislation aimed at bolstering radar and communication systems was proposed in the last session but ultimately failed.
“This was something that I was very big on because I just believe that areas like ours, city areas, we deserve to have real data on what’s happening. We deserve to have protections,” he said.
The upcoming special session will include discussion on flood warning systems, emergency communications, and allocating “flood relief money” for the Hill Country region.
As for the ongoing recovery, Turck says TEXSAR will remain in the area as long as needed.
“Until all the people that are missing are found, or until they tell us that that part of the search is over officially… TEXSAR will be here,” he said.
Representative Manuel urged residents to stay informed as the special session begins, emphasizing the importance of public engagement in disaster response and future planning.