Texas Senator Ted Cruz joined Kerr County officials Monday during a news conference to update the public on the rescue and recovery efforts in Central Texas following the catastrophic flash flooding.

KERR COUNTY, Texas — Authorities say the death toll from the July Fourth floods in the Texas Hill Country has climbed once more, this time to 84 bodies recovered, 28 of whom are children.

In the days after the devastating flood that killed dozens in Central Texas, local officials have deflected direct questions about preparations and warnings in advance of the storm that struck July Fourth.

Before heading to bed before the Fourth of July holiday, Christopher Flowers checked the weather while staying at a friend’s house along the Guadalupe River. Nothing in the forecast alarmed him. Hours later,

Kerr County Commissioners spoke about the importance of an improved flood warning system and funding opportunities to implement such a system. These conversations addressed both the risk of flooding in the Guadalupe Basin and the inadequacy of the existing warning infrastructure.