Governor Greg Abbott, alongside General Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Kerr County to assess damage from recent severe flooding and heavy rainfall. During a briefing at the Hill Country Youth Event Center, Governor Abbott acknowledged the Trump Administration's prompt response in providing essential resources for search and rescue operations in affected communities.
General Nordhaus discussed the national support provided to Texas in its efforts to find missing individuals due to the floods. Local responders and volunteers communicated their needs and described the challenges faced by Kerrville and nearby areas following the disaster. Governor Abbott expressed gratitude to volunteers for their dedication during this difficult time.
The briefing was attended by several officials including Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Major General Thomas Suelzer, Senior Enlisted Advisor John T. Raines III, Command Sergeant Major Frederick Heard, Texas A&M Chancellor Glenn Hegar, Executive Vice Chancellor Susan Ballabina, Board of Regents Chair Robert Albritton, Engineering Extension Service Director David Coatney, Forest Service Director Al Davis, AgriLife Director Rick Avery, among others.
Following the briefing, Governor Abbott and General Nordhaus conducted an aerial survey to observe flood damage over the July 4th weekend. The Governor noted the severity of floodwaters in areas like Kerrville and Hunt while emphasizing coordinated efforts by local, state, and federal teams to rebuild stronger communities.
Afterwards, both leaders expressed appreciation for five groups involved in search and rescue missions that saved numerous lives: two UH-60 Black Hawk assault crews; Ground Transportation Platoons 2 and 3; a Czech Republic Search and Rescue team; and Q3x UH-60 Black Hawk Medevac crews.