Family swept away in Texas floods as search turns grim

Ongoing Search for Missing in Texas Hill Country

In an area nearly four times the size of Manhattan, the search for the dead and missing continues in the Texas Hill Country. After catastrophic flooding on July 4, at least 173 people are still missing while 119 others have already been confirmed dead. Among those yet to be located is a family: Leonardo Romero, his wife Natalia Venzor, and their one-year-old son Carlos. All that remains of their riverfront mobile home is the cement slab it washed away with them.

Erica, Natalia’s mother, remains hopeful her daughter will be found alive. She explained that Natalia’s 19-year-old stepson, Leo Jr., was found in debris in the Guadalupe River, not far from their home. However, there has been no sign of his step-mom, his dad, or baby brother five days later. “It’s been torture, just pure torture,” Erica said, describing the agonizing wait for news about her daughter’s fate.

Leo Jr. was hospitalized due to injuries after spending nearly four hours waiting to be rescued. Erica went to give DNA in case they find them deceased, even though she hopes they are still alive. “I’m hoping they’re not found that way. I’m hoping they’re still alive,” she explained.

The missing family’s neighbor, Greg Atkins, told Daily Mail that state and local search and rescue crews have not been to the property looking for them. “Leo was a sweet, dear, precious man,” Atkins said of the missing father. He added that the Hispanic community came together for Leo, using a Bobcat to tear into the remains of his house, hoping to find him.

Natalia believes not everyone who is missing has had the same resources as the missing children from Camp Mystic. “No, not really. It’s like they’re mainly focusing on Camp Mystic,” she added.

Thursday morning, rescue teams moved into untouched areas of Kerrville. They searched the south bank of the Guadalupe River, across from various campgrounds and RV parks where many of the missing were last seen. With heavy equipment, first responders moved giant trees and debris piles that dwarfed excavators and backhoes, looking for human remains.

Areas that had been cleared were marked in green to signify attention could be paid elsewhere. Each team was equipped with body bags. The search reached this section of the river late Tuesday, and three bodies were discovered not long after. Cadaver canines raced into the bank with renewed pressure to find those who haven’t been seen since Friday.

Volunteer Joy Molina, who lives just 40 feet from the river, believes the number of missing will exceed even what the state has publicly said. “This whole area was filled with campers and people,” she said, pointing across the water to the north side of the Guadalupe. “Hardly any of them made it out.”

No one has been found alive since Friday, officials confirmed Tuesday. But that’s not the point for the volunteers who have driven from Austin, San Antonio, and Houston to give their time. “We’re here to give closure,” one veteran from Austin told Daily Mail. Another man took days from his real estate business in San Antonio. “I just want to do what I can,” he said as he put on water boots.

Like worker bees, they arrived by the dozen, following the direction of trained first responders. Activity came to a stop when a SWAT vehicle with blue and red lights flashing showed up. Uniformed members of the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office jumped out and inspected an area where a glove in the water had become a focal point. “They found a glove that looked like it had been worn recently,” one of the homeowners told Daily Mail. “It had a nail imprint on it. Quite frankly, it looked like a hand sticking out of the water.”

A gully was going to be drained of water so whatever was attached to the glove could be inspected. However, not everyone is actively searching for bodies. Some of the volunteers are simply there to support each other. The trained professionals are leading the way. Behind them are a wave of volunteers with special skills. Some might be using their personal chain saws to cut through fallen branches and clear trees out of the way. Others might be operating equipment like forklifts.

Volunteers are feeding the rescue teams and making sure they have what they need to find the missing. “If all I can do is bring them water, then I’ve done what I can,” Molina, who lovingly organized hydration stations with water, cold drinks, and snacks, explained. She hauled away their trash and set up canopies for shade and chairs for a few minutes’ rest so first responders could rest in what is sure to be sweltering and humid days.

“Another showed up yesterday, ‘I’m here to flip burgers,’” he told her. “Everyone does what they can. I’ve been trying to keep busy. Keep my mind off things.”