Following an aerial tour of the area, Abbott told reporters that blame-seeking was “the word choice of losers.” The governor then turned to that most cherished Texas unifier, football, likening emergency responders to a football team faced with a setback.

Kerr County officials say they are still focused mainly on the search for survivors with hundreds still missing and weren't yet examining how the emergency response unfolded.

At least 24 people are dead after heavy rain lashed Texas, leading to "catastrophic" flooding. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said emergency responders remained in a search and rescue posture, hours after the flooding along the Guadalupe River inundated nearby areas.