00:05Good morning, Jonathan Lau, Kerrville Police Department.
00:11I appreciate y'all's kindness in letting me run a little long yesterday morning.
00:15Well, actually, I shared some of the stories and the heroic actions.
00:18Yeah, you just talked about starting here.
00:20City of Kerrville Police officers hearing their response.
00:24I know those are things that our community has seen.
00:26We felt it was important to show that with the department.
00:30This morning's briefing will be a little bit more to the point.
00:34The response here in Kerr County continues to expand as the mission becomes more technical.
00:40There's more than 2,100 responders on the ground here from state, local, and federal agencies
00:48working to reunite victims and families.
00:51Ten states have sent, especially, to our community,
00:56and two more states are en route.
00:58As I know many of you have reported, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House
01:04are strongly committed to helping our community.
01:07And we're grateful that they're making our recovery a priority in the upcoming special legislative session.
01:15Our city of Kerrville and Kerr County leadership are committed to a transparent and full review of processes and protocols.
01:22This special session is going to be a starting point for that work, but our entire focus since day one has been on rescue and reunification.
01:31Which leads me to our latest report.
01:34As of 8 a.m. this morning, there have been 96 confirmed deaths, 60 adults and 36 children.
01:46The number of missing remains at 161.
01:49And there remain five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic among the missing.
01:58If family members have reported a loved one missing and they return safely, we ask that you notify us through
02:06Kerrville missing at dps.texas.gov or call 830-258-1111.
02:18Again, that's Kerrville missing at dps.texas.gov or call 830-258-1111.
02:29Additionally, in the state of Texas, FEMA, the Small Business Administration have opened a disaster recovery center here in Kerrville for those who have been affected by the storms.
02:42It's currently open at the First Baptist Church here in Kerrville at 625 Washington Street.
02:47It will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.
02:51The Individual Assistance Program can provide financial support for things like medical and dental assistance, vehicle damage, housing,
02:59child care, and replacing essential items, even for non-residents who were impacted by the floods.
03:06You can visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA app, or call 1-800-621-3362.
03:17And again, that's DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA app, or call 1-800-621-3362.
03:27And in closing, I'd like to say one more time, on behalf of our unified command here in Kerr County,
03:34how appreciative we are for the help since this tragedy took place.
03:40People from all over Texas, all over the country continue to show their support in so many ways, and we are thankful.
03:49And with that, I'll take a few questions.
03:52Yes, sir.
03:53This is Morgan Chesky, NBC News.
03:55Did the inability of police radios to communicate directly with county radios
04:00tamper, rescue, or recovery efforts, as does water trucks?
04:04I don't have any information to that point.
04:08Sergeant Landry.
04:10Jason Allen, CBS News.
04:11Given that you still have people who live in this area, what's different?
04:16What changes have been made to ensure you get heavy rain again a week from now, a month from now,
04:22and you don't wind up in the same situation?
04:25I think that's an important question.
04:27And as we are aware, we've been very weather alert throughout the entirety of this.
04:31And that's something that we're going to be looking at. Thank you.
04:33Sergeant Landry, can I get a question?
04:35And John's news for San Antonio.
04:38What can you tell us about the current search area?
04:40How large it is?
04:41How much of it has been searched?
04:43And how exactly does the grid system work for something like this?
04:46So the last part of your question?
04:47How much is the – or how does the grid system work for a disaster like this?
04:52Okay, so the grid system – I'm not a search and rescue recovery expert, so I don't want to speak out of talk.
05:00But it is a methodical search which ensures that every area in an area to be searched is covered and searched and that no stone is left unturned.
05:11Unfortunately, I don't have an exact number of how many miles of river that we've searched or how many people have been out there.
05:22I just don't have that information for you, but I'm happy to follow up.
05:26Sir, this is the last question. This will be the last question.
05:29Yes. Are there messages that we as a collective media are not getting out there?
05:34For example, are you hindrances in searches?
05:36What can we tell people who want to come up with big fitness and health search or remove debris?
05:43Hasn't that been a problem?
05:45I don't want to say it's been a problem because we're so grateful for the amount of people who want to come to this community and help.
05:52And we've had people from all over the state and all over the country volunteer their services and say,
05:56I have a front end worker, I have a boat, I have this, groups and individuals.
06:02But it's important that we have certified professional search teams out there right now.
06:08We have compiled a database of volunteers who have made themselves available.
06:13And if and when that time comes that we are able to call upon them, we will be calling upon them.
06:19In the short term, I believe that all of our basic needs are being met both through the federal and state response.
06:25and the support that we've been getting, as well as this community rising up in a really unprecedented way.
