Number of missing people grows after record flooding in Central Texas

Record rainfall ripped through parts of South Central Texas over the Memorial Day weekend causing flooding and displacing thousands of people. Record rainfall ripped through parts of South Central Texas over the Memorial Day weekend causing flooding and displacing thousands of people. Photo: Courtesy Photo: Courtesy Image 1 of / 93 Caption Close Number of missing people grows after record flooding in Central Texas 1 / 93 Back to Gallery

Updated: 10:22 a.m.

SAN ANTONIO — One person is dead and the number of missing people grew to at least 12 after the Blanco River grew to record level, destroying thousands of buildings in Hays County.

The identity of the deceased person hasn't been confirmed but the man is said to be from San Marcos. Emergency crews continue to look for about a dozen people were part of a group of families with children staying at a vacation home on the river, Ken Bell, San Marcos' emergency management coordinator, said at a press conference Monday morning.

More than 50 responders are part of the rescue mission. Personnel are part of Texas Task Force 1 and local agencies, said Bell.

"We have aerial photography going on in a very finite way," Bell said at the press conference. "First thing this morning they launched. We have drone capability that we're bringing into this thing, GIS, thermal imaging. You name it we're bring it. This isn't a deal where we're just using local resources. We're using state, some federal assets the state's requested to make this happen."

Aside from the search and rescue efforts, officials estimate about 70 buildings were washed away in the Wimberley area after the Blanco River flooded over 43 feet on Sunday. Overall, it's estimated that between 1,200 and 1,300 building were damaged during the flood, said Kharley Smith, emergency management coordinator for Hays County. The cost of the damaged hasn't yet been assessed, she added.

In Dripping Springs, more than two dozen mobile homes were destroyed after a tornado ripped through the area on Saturday.

People looking for loved ones can call 512-753-2180.

- Valentino Lucio

Twitter: @vlucio



Original story continues below:

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — A Corpus Christi church says five of its parishioners are among eight people missing after a vacation home where several families were staying was swept away by a flash flood on the rain-swollen Blanco River.

Former Nueces County Commissioner Joe McComb says his 36-year-old son, Jonathan, is hospitalized in San Antonio with multiple injuries after the house was knocked off its foundation and carried down the raging river Sunday. It struck a bridge and then began breaking up.

McComb tells the Corpus Christi Caller-Times (http://bit.ly/1EsT1Qs ) his son's wife and their two children are among the missing.

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd says five members of two families from the Corpus Christi church also were in the house and are missing.

Four others inside also managed to escape.

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Information from: Corpus Christi Caller-Times, http://www.caller.com