A painful update from Kerr County officials in Texas.  The death toll has risen to 27, with 18 adults and 9 children killed.

The region was beset by death and disaster on Friday after months’ worth of heavy rain fell in a matter of hours, leaving search teams to conduct boat and helicopter rescues in the fast-moving water that overtook riverfront communities and children’s summer camps.

The US National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency for parts of Kerr county, located in south-central Texas Hill Country, following the heavy downpours.  Officials in Kerrville, Texas deliver an update press conference.

A Kerrville city official said during this morning’s press conference that there will be two more briefings today, to update the public about the flood and rescue efforts.  The next press briefing will be at 2pm Central time and the following will be at 6pm Central time.

Authorities say more than 1,000 rescuers are on the ground in Texas, searching for missing people as rains continue to fall outside of San Antonio, the Associated Press reports. Flash flood warnings remain in effect.

Twenty-seven girls from Camp Mystic remain missing, officials say, as authorities have rescued more than 850 people during operations so far.

The destructive fast-moving waters along the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes before dawn Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger is not over as torrential rains continue pounding communities outside San Antonio and flash flood warnings and watches remain in effect for parts of central Texas.