New human settlements constructed in recent years have made the waterway more hazardous, UT-Arlington civil engineering professor says.

As of 6:25 p.m. on Wednesday, 96 people — 60 adults and 36 children — are dead after Hill Country flooding, Kerr County officials said.

Over the last decade, an array of local and state agencies have missed opportunities to fund a flood warning system intended to avert the type of disaster that swept away dozens of youth campers and others in Kerr County,

The organizations working together to help the flood victims said that 'no additional in-kind donations (clothing, food, supplies) are needed in Kerrville.' They said the best way to help is with monetary donations.

Authorities confirmed Wednesday that 120 people have died in the central Texas floods. Follow for live updates.

Flash floods surged through in the middle of the night, but many local officials appeared unaware of the unfolding catastrophe, initially leaving people near the river on their own.

Before hundreds of first responders and volunteers from around the country came to help, it was the local residents of Texas Hill Country who faced down a deadly wall of water along the Gaudalope River and witnessed terrifying scenes.

Follow along for developments on the July Fourth floods along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County and Central Texas.

As floodwaters from the Guadalupe River begin to recede, the emotional and physical toll on Hill Country residents is only just beginning to show.

It took just 90 minutes for the river to rise more than 30 feet. A look at the historic flood levels now etched into Central Texas history.

RickRay Robertson points to a makeshift cross that withstood the July Fourth Kerrville flooding, despite being lodged only 10 inches into the ground. That faith reminds him to stand strong. And by sharing his story, it's allowing him to heal.