Police say 'sightseers' hindering Texas recovery efforts as teams search for victims in debris
Share and Follow

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Texas police say “sightseeing” residents are making it harder for them to complete their rescue and recovery missions in the wake of deadly flash floods this week.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha made the comments during a Wednesday press conference, urging anyone not involved in recovery efforts to “give us room.”

“Our first responders are trying to get to places to do their jobs,” he said. “And people coming here from outside the community, and people within the community, they want to go sightseeing, look at the river, see the flood damage – it’s making our job very hard.”

“We ask folks to give us room to work,” he added.

Texas Flooding

First responders in Texas are urging residents to stay away from areas where recovery efforts are ongoing. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

Leitha says authorities are now using heavy machinery to search through dense piles of debris that collected in “bottlenecks” at various places along the flooded rivers and creeks.

He also urged residents who have large piles of debris on their property not to use heavy machinery to remove them until first responders arrive.

“It’s possible there are victims in that debris pile,” Leitha said. “We don’t want to disturb that. Please give us a call…and let us know that you’ve got a debris pile that needs to be checked before you begin that level of clean-up.

Officials said there have confirmed 95 deaths in Kerr County alone, including 59 adults, and 36 children. Of those, 14 and 13 remain unidentified respectively.

Officials added that there are still 161 people reported missing in Kerr County, and they urged residents who may have reunited with missing loved ones to notify authorities.

First responders search for individuals after devastating Texas flood

Social media users, including meteorologists and leftist commentators, ripped liberals and Democratic Party figures blaming the GOP for the destruction caused by flash flooding in central Texas over the weekend.  (Michel Fortier/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Authorities noted that some methods of search — such as horseback or ATV patrols — are currently not viable due to hazardous conditions. Numerous low-water crossings and bridges remain in need of repair before emergency teams can fully access all affected locations.

Fox News’ Stepheny Price contributed to this report

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Trump blasts judge for blocking use of National Guard

Trump Criticizes Judge’s Decision to Halt National Guard Deployment

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site…
Eric Dane reveals why he wasn't at 2025 Emmy Awards

Eric Dane Shares the Reason Behind His Absence from the 2025 Emmy Awards

WASHINGTON — “Grey’s Anatomy” star Eric Dane recently shared why he missed out…
UK police given more time to question 4 suspects over deadly Manchester synagogue attack

UK Police Extend Interrogation Period for Four Suspects in Fatal Manchester Synagogue Attack

Police have arrested six people on suspicion of terror offenses after an…
Meghan Markle pictured in Paris for Fashion Week at Balenciaga show

Meghan Connects with Anna Wintour and Baz Luhrmann During Paris Fashion Week

Meghan Markle was seen mingling with celebrities during her unexpected appearance at…
The stunning touchdown that sparked the Titans' unlikely comeback

The Incredible Touchdown That Fueled the Titans’ Surprising Comeback Victory

The longest active losing streak in the NFL came to an end…
Universal to reopen Stardust Racers ride two weeks after man's death

Universal to Reopen Stardust Racers Ride Following Two-Week Closure Due to Fatal Incident

This comes more than two weeks after a 32-year-old man died of…
Meghan Markle posts 'insensitive' video near tunnel where Diana died

Meghan Markle Criticized for Video Filmed Close to Diana’s Accident Site

The Duchess of Sussex has come under fire for being labeled ‘insensitive’…
Blizzard traps hundreds on Mount Everest as rescue teams race to save lives

Blizzard traps hundreds on Mount Everest as rescue teams race to save lives

Mike Tobin opens up on ‘arduous’ Mount Everest climb Fox News senior…