Over 160 Still Missing in Texas Flood Aftermath as Rescue Efforts Intensify

Four days after catastrophic flash floods swept through Kerr County, Texas, at least 161 individuals are still unaccounted for, according to Governor Greg Abbott. The disaster, which has claimed over 111 lives, has left rescue teams scrambling to locate survivors amidst widespread destruction.

Among the missing are five campers and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River. Kerrville, a heavily impacted area, has seen more than 90 fatalities, making it the epicenter of the tragedy.

Texas is not the only state grappling with the aftermath of extreme weather. Neighboring New Mexico also declared a flash flood emergency earlier this week, resulting in at least three deaths. The village of Rudioso was inundated after up to 8.8 cm (3.5 inches) of rain fell, though floodwaters have since receded.

In Texas, search and rescue operations are in full swing, with Governor Abbott vowing that emergency crews "will not stop until every missing person is accounted for." He warned that the number of missing individuals could rise in the coming days and urged residents to report anyone unaccounted for.

General Thomas Suelzer of the Texas National Guard revealed that teams are utilizing Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters equipped with rescue hoists to aid in the effort. Thirteen Black Hawk helicopters, including four from Arkansas, are assisting in the search, alongside reaper drones. Over 250 responders from various agencies, including border patrol, the FBI, and the National Guard, are working in the Kerrville area alone.

Rescue volunteers have described the scale of destruction as unprecedented. "I've done the floods down in East Texas and Southeast Texas, and hurricanes, and this is a nightmare," said one volunteer named Tim. Another, Justin, likened the search to "trying to find a single hay in a haystack," citing the extensive trail of destruction and limited resources.

Questions have arisen about the adequacy of flood warnings and evacuation efforts prior to the disaster. Governor Abbott acknowledged that while a storm warning was issued, the magnitude of the flood was unforeseen. "No-one knew it would lead to a 30-foot high tsunami wall of water," he said, dismissing blame as "the word choice of losers."

Survivors are now focused on rebuilding their lives. Justin Brown, a long-time resident of the Guadalupe River area, lost his mobile home in the floods. "We were one of the few parks that got almost everybody out," he said, expressing hope to return to the area once it is safe.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to visit the flood-ravaged regions on Friday to assess the damage and support recovery efforts. Meanwhile, in New Mexico, officials continue to work with boats to rescue trapped residents, with several still unaccounted for.

As communities brace for the long road to recovery, the focus remains on locating the missing and providing aid to those affected by this devastating natural disaster.