Local News
Central Texas Floods: Death count reaches 75 as rescue efforts continue
UPDATE: KERRVILLE, Texas — The confirmed death toll from the catastrophic Independence Day flooding in Central Texas has risen to 75, officials announced during a Monday morning press briefing. Rescue teams remain engaged in the critical “primary phase” of search and recovery efforts, despite ongoing rain and challenging conditions.
Of the 75 confirmed fatalities, 48 are adults and 27 are children. Authorities reported that 15 adults and nine children have yet to be formally identified. Additionally, 10 campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic remain unaccounted for as of Monday morning.
Texas State Highway 39 remains closed to the public as emergency operations continue. Officials reiterated that all necessary resources are currently in place and emphasized the need for coordination. Volunteers wishing to assist must register through the Salvation Army in Kerrville by calling 830-465-4797.
“We are urging people not to self-deploy,” said City Manager Dalton Rice. “What we need right now is a coordinated effort.”
The active search area stretches from Hunt in northern Kerr County to Canyon Lake in Comal County, covering roughly 62 miles (100 kilometers) in a straight line. Rice noted that the rugged terrain and scale of the disaster zone pose significant logistical challenges. Each two-kilometer segment of river and land takes approximately three hours to search.
Nineteen local and state agencies are currently conducting primary and secondary searches, including welfare checks on communities in northern Kerr County still affected by widespread power outages. As of Monday morning, 40 utility poles remain down in the South Fork area along the Guadalupe River, and there is no estimated time for full power restoration.
Despite the scale of the devastation, officials praised the support received from across all levels of government. More than 850 high-water rescues have been conducted since the flooding began.
“We remain hopeful,” said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring. “The primary search continues, and our thoughts and prayers are with every family still waiting for news. We are committed to finding every person and bringing closure to their loved ones.”
ORIGINAL REPORT:
A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway after historic flooding along the Guadalupe River swept away portions of Camp Mystic, a prominent all-girls Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas.
Family members have confirmed that Lila Bonner and Eloise Peck —campers staying in the “Bubble Inn” cabin—remain missing, along with at least 20 other girls.
The flooding was triggered by severe overnight storms that caused the Guadalupe River to surge over 22 feet in just 30 minutes Friday morning.
At its peak, the river reached 30 feet in nearby Comfort, breaking long-standing records.
As of 3:30 p.m., Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick confirmed that approximately 23 children are still unaccounted for.
A massive rescue effort involving 400 to 500 personnel and 18 helicopters is underway, with teams operating both on the ground and in the air. Some children have already been rescued from trees, while others were reportedly found inside vehicles washed away by the floodwaters.
“This is a mass casualty event,” said Freeman Martin, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported at least 13 confirmed fatalities, warning that the number may rise.
Despite earlier conflicting reports, families of the missing girls have confirmed that several campers are still unaccounted for. One such family confirmed Hadley Hanna of Dallas remains missing.
Kellyanne Lytal is among the girls still unaccounted for due to the flooding at Camp Mystic. If you, or someone you know, are in the area PLEASE keep an eye out for her. Keep her and her family in your prayers and call the above phone number if you have any information.
Camp Mystic, which was housing approximately 750 girls between the ages of 7 and 17, issued a statement to parents early Friday: “If your daughter is not accounted for, you have been notified.” The camp remains without power, water, or internet, and the primary access road has been washed out, severely hampering rescue operations.
Texas officials have been in direct contact with President Donald Trump, who has reportedly offered full federal assistance. The U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA have been activated and are coordinating with local and state agencies.
Senator Ted Cruz urged for prayers and support on social media, writing, “Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic… President Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs.”
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly confirmed efforts are ongoing to reach stranded campers: “We know where some of them are… but we are still working to determine the total number of missing.”
Flood watches and warnings remain in effect across much of Texas, including Hill Country, as the threat of additional flash flooding continues through the weekend.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area and keep phone lines clear for emergency use. Anyone with information on missing campers is encouraged to contact Kerr County emergency management immediately.
Please keep the families, rescue personnel, and all affected by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.
GREENACRES, Florida — All nine people killed when a private Learjet 60 crashed into a residential neighborhood in Greenacres, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, have been identified, including a Texas family of four, their nanny, two family friends, and the two pilots aboard the aircraft.
The victims were identified as:
- Adam Robinson, 45 — Technology entrepreneur and founder of Retention.com.
- Helen Sharp — Robinson’s wife.
- Emma Robinson, 4 — The couple’s daughter.
- Charlie Robinson, 2 — The couple’s son.
- Anita Maria Cetina — The family’s nanny.
- Rachael Reed — A family friend.
- Charmi Fehr — A family friend.
- Jeff Gregory, 55 — The aircraft’s captain.
- Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20 — The co-pilot.
The devastating loss was confirmed in a statement shared by the families of several passengers, who described the victims as deeply loved individuals whose lives were filled with family, friendship, generosity, and affection.
In their statement, the families said Adam Robinson and Helen Sharp were devoted parents whose children, Emma and Charlie, were the center of their lives. The couple was remembered for their warmth, generosity, and ability to make others feel welcome.
“Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were the light of their lives,” the statement said, describing the couple’s relationship as a love that would last forever.
Family members also remembered Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr as joyful, adventurous people who loved their friends and families wholeheartedly. They said the two women shared a close bond and brought happiness to the lives of those around them.
Anita Maria Cetina, who cared for the Robinson children, was described as much more than a nanny. The family said she was truly part of their household and cared for Emma and Charlie with tenderness and devotion.
The families expressed gratitude to first responders, investigators, and members of the Palm Beach County community for their assistance and compassion following the tragedy. They also acknowledged the support and condolences they had received from people across the country.
Their statement extended sympathy to the families of the two pilots, Jeff Gregory and Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, who were also killed in the crash.
The Learjet 60 was reportedly traveling from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it crashed in Palm Beach County.
According to information presented during a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) news conference, the flight crew contacted air traffic control shortly before the crash and reported ice accumulation and moderate turbulence.
The aircraft was reportedly cruising at approximately 35,000 feet when the pilots requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet, apparently attempting to navigate away from the reported weather conditions.
The situation reportedly deteriorated rapidly as the aircraft began losing altitude.
During the final communications with air traffic control, co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras reportedly described a severe descent, initially indicating that the aircraft was dropping at approximately 10,000 feet per minute. Subsequent reports indicated that the descent rate exceeded 20,000 feet per minute and that the aircraft had entered an overspeed condition.
A male voice, reportedly believed to be Captain Jeff Gregory, was heard reciting the Lord’s Prayer as the pilots struggled to respond to the emergency.
The final reported transmission included the words, “We’re out of time.”
At approximately 12:50 p.m. on November 1, the Learjet crashed near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in Greenacres, Florida.
The impact triggered a massive fire and left extensive destruction in the residential area. A large crater was reported near a mobile home community, while aircraft wreckage was scattered across the surrounding neighborhood.
The crash also damaged electrical infrastructure and prompted emergency crews to evacuate hundreds of residents from the area as firefighters and other first responders worked to contain the fire and secure the scene.
All nine people aboard the aircraft were killed.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation to determine what caused the Learjet 60 to crash.
Investigators are examining the aircraft’s final flight path, weather conditions, reported ice accumulation, turbulence, communications with air traffic control, and recovered wreckage.
Although the pilots reportedly communicated concerns about icing and turbulence shortly before the crash, investigators have not established whether either condition caused or contributed to the aircraft’s loss of control.
The investigation remains ongoing, and officials are expected to release additional findings as the examination of the aircraft and available evidence continues.
The tragedy has left multiple families grieving the loss of their loved ones, including two young children, and has deeply affected the Greenacres community.