Texas Flood Catastrophe: Search Efforts Intensify as Death Toll Rises**

In the aftermath of severe flooding that has hit Texas, particularly in Kerr County, the search for missing persons continues while the death toll rises drastically. Rescuers face challenging conditions as they strive to locate survivors amid the widespread devastation.**

At least 150 individuals are currently reported missing in Kerr County, Texas, five days after a series of deadly flash floods severely impacted the region. Authorities are losing hope for the missing, which includes five campers and a counselor from Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp located on the banks of the Guadalupe River. The confirmed death toll across the affected areas has now reached 119, with up to 95 fatalities reported solely from the Kerrville area.

The devastation is not limited to Texas, as neighboring New Mexico experienced a flash flood emergency, leading to the deaths of at least three people. Heavy rainfall of up to 8.8 cm (3.5 in) caused the Rio Ruidoso to swell, inundating areas like the village of Ruidoso before waters began to recede.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed commitment to ongoing search and rescue operations, pledging that teams will not cease efforts until all missing individuals are accounted for. He indicated that more names might be added to the missing list as search activities progress. General Thomas Suelzer of the Texas National Guard emphasized the mobilization of helicopters and drones to support the extensive search.

Collaborative rescue efforts are underway, with officers from a variety of agencies, including the FBI and border patrol, contributing to relief missions. More than 250 responders are focused on the Kerrville area alone, facing the overwhelming challenge of navigating a wide and destroyed landscape.

Volunteer responders have remarked on the sheer scale of the destruction, comparing the search to finding a single needle in a haystack. Many areas remain inaccessible for heavy machinery, prompting responders to sift through rubble by hand. As questions arise regarding the adequacy of flood warnings and preparation before the storms struck, experts cite several factors that compounded the disaster, including extreme weather conditions and inadequate evacuation measures.

While Governor Abbott defended the response efforts, emphasizing that the full scale of the storm's impact was unforeseen, he remarked that those attributing blame seek to undermine the collaborative rescue work. The tragic toll is particularly felt in Kerr County, where rapid rising waters swept through homes and communities in the chaos that followed the torrential rain on the morning of July Fourth.

Survivors are now faced with the daunting task of rebuilding their lives amidst the wreckage. Justin Brown, a resident for over 25 years along the Guadalupe River, described the loss of his mobile home and the impact on his family. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit the affected regions to offer support and assess the damage firsthand.

As recovery continues in both Texas and New Mexico, the urgent focus remains on rescuing those unaccounted for and providing assistance to communities fractured by this natural disaster.