A county sheriff in 2016 recalled how he pulled “kids out of trees” in summer camps as leaders debated a siren system for years.

The death toll now stands at 70 in the wake of torrential rains and the resulting flooding in Texas. By far the greatest number of fatalities occurred in Kerr County, where 59 people are believed to be dead, according to officials, including 21 children.

Rescuers are combing through a ravaged Texas Hill Country terrain, marked by toppled trees, overturned vehicles and debris, to find survivors in Friday’s flood. Kerr County officials are expected to give an update at 10 a.