Amid staggering loss, hundreds gathered in mourning and prayer at a Wednesday night vigil for the victims of the July Fourth floods.

Hundreds gathered on Wednesday night to mourn those killed in the recent Hill Country floods. The community united in grief and hope, seeking comfort amid the ongoing tragedy at the Antler Stadium in Kerrville.

FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration, in coordination with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, are opening a Disaster Recovery Center in Kerrville on Thursday, July 10, to help homeowners, renters and business owners impacted by the flooding.

State Rep. Wes Virdell, whose district includes Kerr County, voted against House Bill 13 earlier this year. The bill would have funded a statewide rural alert system. But after spending the weekend assisting in disaster zones caused by the floods, the state rep voiced a change of heart, per the Texas Tribune .

Kerrville businesses and volunteers are leading recovery efforts after the deadly Hill Country floods devastated the area.

TEXSAR, an Austin-based nonprofit first responder organization, has deployed swiftwater teams, boats, drones and K9s to help search for missing people. It hopes to raise $100,000 to maintain its operation. Donations can be made online.

When the precipitation intensified in the early morning hours Friday, many people failed to receive or respond to flood warnings at riverside campsites known to be in the floodplain.

As Texas Hill Country communities rebuild, Central Texans are offering support through vital donations and local drives.

A major flood event also struck the Texas Hill Country in July of 1987 after a series of 17 thunderstorms moved slowly, in succession, over the headwaters of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. Anywhere from 5 to 10 inches of rain fell on the flood-prone areas, now deemed “Flash Flood Alley,” according to a National Weather Service report.

Gov. Greg Abbott has promised to add flood response to the agenda for the July 21 special session, with an expected focus on alert systems and local recovery.

A massive Texas search and cleanup effort was set to enter its fifth day Tuesday in response to Guadalupe River flooding that surged through the area on July 4.