A Community Effort Led by a Father in Mourning
In Kerr County, Texas, volunteers gather daily before sunrise in a parking lot in Kerrville to assist in the ongoing search for individuals still missing after the July 4 flooding. The operation is being led by Thad Heartfield, an attorney from Beaumont whose son remains unaccounted for.
Heartfield’s family owns a house in Hunt, a small community along the Guadalupe River. On the night of the flood, his son and three friends were staying there. The rising waters swept through the area, destroying the cabin. Heartfield arrived the next morning and began organizing search teams.
Difficult Terrain Slows Progress
Volunteers have recovered several victims, including two of the young men who had been with Heartfield’s son. The conditions are harsh — searchers must navigate debris fields, fallen trees, mud, and submerged areas.
Teams are assigned to 1-mile zones and work in shifts of up to eight hours. Heartfield believes repeated, focused searching increases the chances of locating those still missing.
Collaboration Between Volunteers and Authorities
Although first responders and law enforcement teams have taken over some sections of the river, cooperation with volunteer groups has remained effective. DNA testing is being used to identify many of the recovered individuals.
The main volunteer-led search covers a 7-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River, from Hunt to Ingram, while official efforts span 26 miles. As of Tuesday, over two dozen of the recovered victims had yet to be identified.
Despite personal loss, Heartfield continues to lead the effort. He says he will not stop until his son, his son’s girlfriend, and others still missing are found.
