A Kerrville-area river authority executed a contract for a flood warning system that would have been used to help with emergency response, local officials said.

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.

Follow for live updates in the Texas flooding as more than 173 are missing as rescuers continue a desperate search

The number of confirmed deaths from the Texas Hill Country floods rose to 95 in Kerr County on Wednesday, Sheriff Larry Leitha said.

The number of people missing after devastating floods in Texas continues to climb, with officials warning that the recovery effort is far from over despite thousands of first responders clearing debris and searching for survivors.

Officials in flood-stricken central Texas on Wednesday again deflected mounting questions about whether they could have done more to warn people ahead of devastating flash flooding that killed at least 119 people on July 4.

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 in Kerr County, Texas.

Nearly a week after deadly floods struck Central Texas, search and rescue teams are continuing to probe debris for those still missing.

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has established the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to support local response, relief, and recovery efforts following the devastating July 4th flood. You can access the Fund here: https://t.co/fSsOpJj2hq pic.twitter.com/uyYMBazwaX

The event was held as search crews and volunteers continued to scour miles along the Guadalupe River for the people still missing.

As flood water rose rapidly on the Guadalupe River in Texas early on July 4, there was no outdoor siren or warning alarm to alert people to the danger.Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, a top local government official,