KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — On Wednesday evening, several hundred people gathered at Tivy Antler Stadium in Kerrville, Texas, for a solemn worship ceremony dedicated to the memory of at least 120 victims of the catastrophic flash floods that occurred during the July Fourth holiday. The event not only honored the deceased but also those still missing—over 160 individuals—primarily from the hard-hit Kerr County, including Kerrville.
Wyatt Wentrcek, a local youth minister, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the tragedy the community faced "literally in the darkness" in the middle of the night. During the ceremony, attendees participated in prayers and comforted one another, reflecting the overwhelming grief within the community.
Many attendees wore blue shirts bearing the school’s slogan, "Tivy Fight Never Die," along with green ribbons symbolizing Camp Mystic, a century-old all-girls Christian summer camp. Tragically, at least 27 campers and counselors lost their lives due to the flood, and officials reported that five campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for.
Ricky Pruitt from the Kerrville Church of Christ remarked that the gathering was significant given the stadium's history of celebrating victories and enduring losses. "Tonight is very different than all of those nights," he stated, highlighting the somber atmosphere surrounding the memorial.
The vigil coincided with ongoing search efforts as crews and volunteers scoured miles along the Guadalupe River in pursuit of the missing individuals. Utilizing airboats, helicopters, and search dogs, the teams were focusing on areas where they might find any signs of the lost, even as they grappled with the grim reality that finding anyone alive was unlikely. The floods are now recorded as the deadliest inland flooding incident in the U.S. since the Big Thompson Canyon flood in Colorado in 1976, which claimed 144 lives.
Governor Greg Abbott expressed concerns over the lack of prior warnings and preparations, as officials are being called to provide more information about those who were in Hill Country over the holiday weekend but did not register at camps or hotels. Public officials have faced criticism for their response to the disaster, but Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha assured that questions regarding the timeline of events would be addressed, though the current focus remains on victim recovery.
Abbott urged state lawmakers to enhance flood warning systems and improve emergency communications in flood-prone regions in an upcoming special session beginning July 21. He also called for financial support for response and recovery efforts stemming from the floods. This incident sheds light on the urgent need for better preparation for natural disasters, as local leaders had previously discussed the implementation of a flood warning system that was delayed due to budgetary concerns.
In light of the devastation, President Trump has promised to provide necessary relief for Texas and is expected to visit the state soon. Pre-flood polls indicated a significant belief among Americans that the federal government should take a leading role in disaster preparedness and response.
As flash floods continue to pose a threat, highlighted by a recent incident in New Mexico that resulted in three fatalities, the increasing severity of such weather events raises alarms. Experts suggest that while it's challenging to link a specific weather occurrence directly to climate change, a warming atmosphere is contributing to the heightened likelihood of these disasters.
Following the memorial service in Kerrville, children and families gathered on the field, forming prayer circles and seeking solace together. Licensed counselors were available to assist those affected emotionally. Attendee Andrew Brown, who came to honor a Tivy High School soccer coach lost in the flood, emphasized the necessity of a siren warning system for future preparedness. Another attendee, David Garza, expressed his support for the community, sharing his experiences from past floods in the area.
