KERR COUNTY, Tx — Kerr County Officials held a news conference on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest on the search and rescue efforts on July 8, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Here are some of the highlights of that news conference:
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha
- As of 8 a.m., 101 first responders are working along the Guadalupe River
- 87 bodies recovered in Kerr County, including the bodies of 30 children
- Identification is pending for 19 adults and 7 children, 1 additional person still unidentified
- Some of the victims' bodies have been released to their families
- 5 Camp Mystic campers and 1 camp counselor are still unaccounted for
- Private boats are being asked to stay off the river so that crews can continue searching for victims
- They are working on a timeline on what took place after the flash flood alert was issued
Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr.
- The City of Kerrville is greatful for the generosity of the world.
- The City of Kerrville is working on a new system to accept donations. Once those plans are complete, the city will post those plans on the city of Kerrville's Facebook page
- Financial donations can still be made on the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country's website www.communityfoundation.net.
- "Please pray for those who mourn, for those who wait, and for those who help."
Lt. Col. Ben Baker, Texas Game Wardens
- Since early Friday morning, more than 300 Game Wardens have responded to the area and served the residents of Kerr County
- Game wardens have searched 26 river miles since Friday
- Conducted 444 rescues
- 30 recoveries
- Provided 2 helicopters with hoist teams
- 12 drone teams
- 10 K9 units
- 9 swift water crews
- 15 air boats
- 16 UTVs
- 169 four-wheel drive vehicles
- Game wardens will remain in Kerr County
- Described how specialized teams are going through the debris layer by layer to make their recoveries
- They have a crisis management team to offer support to game wardens in the field
Jonathan Lamb, Kerrville Police Department
- There's been substantial damage to several roads. Some roads have been closed for safety.
- The public is being asked to avoid the area. Sightseers are clogging up roadways, making it harder for first responders to get to where they need to
- The last live rescue was made on Friday
The news conference was open to questions and that's when things got heated. One reporter asked several times if the Kerr County's emergency manager officer was awake when the flash flood warning was issued and whether they sent an emergency alert. Another reporter asked who in the Kerr County emergency office was monitoring weather alerts from the National Weather Service and who was responsible for ordering a mandatory evacuation.
Lt. Col. Ben Baker came forward and said those questions would not be answered and the 10 am news conference would only focus on the latest on their recovery efforts.
The team announced the next press conference would be held Tuesday, July 8 at 5 p.m.
For a look at Tuesday's 10 a.m. news conference:
