Nina Brooks, president of Search & Support San Antonio, says after the announcement they will keep searching.
KERR COUNTY, Texas — It’s news that many say was welcomed, but surprising.
On Saturday evening, Kerr County officials announced the number of missing individuals was down from 97 to just three.
Previously the number was 161.
We spoke with a search organization on how this news is impacting their search operations.
The nonprofit, Search & Support San Antonio, is calling for transparency from Kerr County officials about the new number.
Nina Brooks, president of Search & Support San Antonio, says after the announcement they will keep searching.
“We’re still searching for the three missing individuals. It doesn’t make a difference if there are 100 missing, 50, or three,” said Brooks.
Brooks says the number of missing could impact resources.
“The public’s interest, of course, is different when 100 people are still missing, or 3. You definitely feel the drop in interest of volunteers to show up, resources are flattened out,” said Brooks.
Kerr County officials say hundreds were reported missing and in coordination with Texas DPS, investigators began an exhaustive effort to verify the status of each person reported as missing.
Through communication with families, local agencies, communities and law enforcement, confirmed missing individuals has decreased to three.
In a statement, officials said in part, “The process takes time but is essential to ensure that every lead is thoroughly followed, and each person is properly accounted for,” said Jonathan Lamb, public information officer for Kerrville PD.
Still, Brooks says she is calling for more transparency and details from Kerr County officials.
“Who are these individuals that are still missing? Where were they missing from? Is Kerr County considering only residents of the Kerr County, or also visitors, guests, that came from out of the town for the 4th of July celebrations?” Brooks wondered.
Area residents also voiced their concerns about the numbers of the missing dropping so quickly.
“We’ve not been given any, I guess, warning along the way or explanation, on how it dropped from 96 to three overnight,” said Gina Sheftall, an area resident.
“If it was over the course of a week or a week and a half, but overnight it’s kind of weird, I mean it is strange,” said RickyRay Robertson, a Kerrville resident.
We did reach out to Kerr County officials for an on-camera interview, but in an email they stated:
“All personnel are still involved in emergency operations center functions, and are unavailable for an interview.”