KERR COUNTY, Texas – Evacuations are underway in the Hill Country and the San Antonio area on Friday due to ongoing flooding.
Between 10 and 12 inches of rain fell in the Kerr County area overnight, resulting in major flooding along the Guadalupe River. Click here for the latest forecast.
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In a news conference on Friday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said out of 750 people, 23 girls are still unaccounted for from Camp Mystic, a girls-only camp on the Guadalupe River.
“I know there’s anxious parents who want to receive news,” said Patrick, who is currently acting governor.
Patrick said the main search location is in the area of Camp Mystic.
Here’s what to know about evacuations in other counties as the floodwater moves south:
Comal County
After a swollen Guadalupe River caused multiple fatalities in the Kerr County area, the floodwater is now headed toward Comal County.
In a Facebook post on Friday afternoon, Comal County officials said people living in low-lying areas near the Guadalupe River, especially between the Kendall/Comal County line and Canyon Lake, should “evacuate now.”
“The river is expected to rise to dangerous levels overnight, higher than the Guadalupe River bridge at U.S. Highway 281.”
Comal County officials said several roads will be cut off, making travel “extremely unsafe.”
“If you live near the river, don’t wait for conditions to worsen,” the post stated. “Move to higher ground now and stay tuned to official updates from Comal County and the National Weather Service.”
Bandera County
The Bandera County Sheriff’s Office told KSAT that deputies are evacuating an RV park near downtown Bandera due to high water in the Medina River.
Officials have several roads closed or blocked off on the west end of town, deputies said.
Kerr County
As of 9 p.m. on Friday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said that at least 25 people were killed as a result of Friday’s severe weather.
There are currently 24 fatalities in Kerr County and one fatality in Kendall County, Leitha said.
“We’re working really hard. This is probably going to be a couple-of-day process,” Leitha said Friday afternoon. “We don’t know when it’s going to stop raining. Hopefully, not much more.”
An unknown number of people remain unaccounted for, the sheriff said.
The National Weather Service said the Guadalupe River at Hunt reached its second-highest height on record, surpassing the level during a major 1987 flood event.
NWS said the river had reached a major flood stage in Hunt. The Guadalupe River was expected to crest at 34 feet, according to the National Water Prediction Service.
Residents are urged to avoid traveling through the area and moving to higher ground if they are along the Guadalupe River near Hunt.
Comfort
In a Facebook post on Friday morning, the Comfort Volunteer Fire Department posted that evacuations were underway for Comfort residents along the Guadalupe River.
Chris Shadrock, a director of communications for the City of Boerne, said Boerne Fire Department crews were deploying “multiple rescue assets” to assist in the Comfort area.
TxDOT is keeping part of Highway 27 at Cypress Creek in Comfort, and FM 1350 east of Center Point will be closed until water recedes, Shadrock said.
Comfort High School is being opened as a shelter for displaced residents.
Boerne, fire crews deployed to Comfort area
Shadrock confirmed to KSAT that Boerne and the Kendall County Emergency Operations Center were activated due to flooding in the northern and western parts of the county, along the Guadalupe River.
As for San Antonio, major flooding is NOT expected throughout the Fourth of July weekend.
Stay tuned to local authorities, NOAA Weather Radio, and the KSAT News & Weather app, for the latest updates.
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