KERR COUNTY, Texas — The death toll from devastating floods sweeping through Texas has climbed to at least 119, according to officials on Wednesday. Efforts to locate missing persons continue, as community members express frustration over the effectiveness of government alert systems.

Kerr County has been hit hardest, with at least 95 fatalities reported in the area due to flooding that erupted last Friday. Fourteen additional deaths have occurred in nearby regions, with authorities identifying the victims as 59 adults and 36 children. Meanwhile, roughly 27 bodies remain unidentified.

As residents begin to return to assess the destruction, the anxiety surrounding the fate of 161 individuals reported missing in Kerr County has risen. This figure represents the bulk of approximately 173 statewide. Among the missing are five campers and a counselor associated with Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp severely impacted by the floods.

The urgency of recovery and rescue efforts is palpable, yet many individuals are scrutinizing the government’s warning systems. Reports indicate that first responders in Kerr County requestedactivation of a mass-alert system early on Friday morning to warn residents of the impending disaster. The system, designed to deliver emergency messages via text and recorded phone calls, faced delays that some local residents have criticized.

Dispatchers reportedly delayed the activation of the alert for nearly six hours, with some residents receiving notifications as late as 10 a.m., well after the initial request. This inconsistency in emergency communications has led local officials to confront the need for a reliable alert system. Kerr County’s judge previously stated that an emergency alert system was absent, raising questions about preparedness.

Sheriff Larry Leitha expressed the need for clarity surrounding those who went missing, issuing an appeal to the community for patience. “I believe those questions need to be answered, to the families of the missing loved ones, to the public… and we’re going to get that answer,” he stated.

Communities in Kerr County lack outdoor weather sirens that could have provided immediate alerts, a concern that has been voiced since officials applied for grants for a flood-warning system in 2015. Local alarm systems often rely on word-of-mouth to communicate threats, prompting a petition for an early warning siren system that has garnered over 35,000 signatures since the disaster.

As recovery efforts continue, officials are focused on clearing debris and searching for missing persons. The sheriff’s department has mobilized extensive resources, urging residents to stay clear of search areas as heavy machinery is utilized.

On a federal level, the Trump administration declared the floods a “major disaster,” thereby mobilizing federal resources to assist ongoing recovery initiatives in the state. Local leaders emphasize the urgency of the situation, asking community members to remain patient and supportive as they navigate through the aftermath of this tragic event.