In an area nearly four times the size of Manhattan, the search continues for the dead and missing in Texas Hill Country.
After catastrophic flooding July 4, at least 173 people are still missing while 119 others have already been confirmed dead.
Among those yet to be located is an entire family; Leonardo Romero, his wife Natalia Venzor, and their one-year-old son Carlos.
All that’s left of their riverfront mobile home is the cement slab it washed away with them in it.
In a grim turn, Erica remained hopeful her daughter would be found alive because Natalia’s 19-year-old step-son, Leo Jr., who was also in the house the morning the of the flooding, was found in debris in the Guadalupe River, not far from the house.
However, there has been no sign of his step-mom, his dad or baby brother five days later.
‘It’s been torture, just pure torture,’ Natalia Venzor’s mom, Erica, told of waiting to learn of her daughter’s fate.
Leo Jr. was hospitalized due to his injures after spending nearly four hours waiting to be rescued.
Three members of a family of four washed away in the July 4 Texas flash flood remain missing; Leonardo Romero, his wife Natalia Venzor, and their one-year-old son Carlos. Natalia’s 19-year-old step son Carlos Jr. was rescued in the waters alive and is now in the hospital
Pictured: The family’s home was ripped from this concrete driveway. All that’s left is stairs, a tiny porch and a car
Pictured: Pieces of the family’s home slammed into this yellow mobile home during the flood
Search efforts continue throughout Texas Hill Country for missing people thought to be washed away in the devastating flash floods that began on July 4 (Pictured: Rising waters submerge homes, trees and cars in Kerrville, Texas, on July 4)
‘I went and gave DNA in case they find them deceased, even though I’m hoping they’re not found that way. I’m hoping they’re still alive,’ Erica explained.
The missing family’s neighbor, Greg Atkins, told Daily Mail state and local search and rescue crews have not been to the property looking for them.
‘Leo was a sweet, dear, precious man,’ Atkins said of the missing father.
‘The Hispanic community came together for Leo. They came down here the day it started and they had a Bobcat that had a scoop on it, and they were tearing into the remains of (Leo’s) house that was wrapped around that tree, hoping to find him.’
Natalia’s believes not everyone who is missing has had the same resources as the missing children from Camp Mystic.
‘No, not really. It’s like they’re mainly focusing on Camp Mystic,’ Venzor added.
Thursday morning, rescue teams moved into untouched areas of Kerrville.
Teams searched the south bank of the Guadalupe River, across from various camp grounds and RV park where many of the missing were last seen.
With heavy equipment, first responders moved giant trees and debris piles that dwarfed excavators and back hoes, looking for human remains.
Some residents Daily Mail spoke to had concerns that authorities are not giving equal consideration to all the missing individuals (Pictured: Texas State Troopers inspect the remnants of a playground destroyed by a fallen tree)
Teams equipped with body bags are searching areas near the Guadalupe River. Three bodies were discovered on Tuesday (Pictured: Debris sits along the river after it was carried away in the initial flooding
Pictured: Abandoned clothes are a common sight outside flooded homes in the area
Some volunteers believe there are more people missing than the official count from the state government (Pictured: Women organize clothing and other belongings at Camp Mystic, one of the summer camps that was devastated by the flash flooding)
Areas that had been cleared were marked in green to signify attention could be paid elsewhere.
Each team is quipped with body bags.
The search reached this section of the river late Tuesday, and three bodies were discovered not long after.
Cadaver canines raced into the bank with renewed pressure to find those were haven’t been seen since Friday.
Volunteer Joy Molina, who lives just 40 feet from the river, believes the number of missing will exceed even what the state has publicly said.
‘This whole area was filled with campers and people,’ she said pointing across the water to north side of the Guadalupe.
‘Hardly any of them made it out.’
No one has been found alive since Friday, officials confirmed Tuesday.
But that’s not the point for the volunteers who have driven from Austin, San Antonio, and Houston to give their time.
‘We’re here to give closure,’ one veteran from Austin told Daily Mail.
Another man took days from his real estate business in San Antonio.
‘I just want to do what I can,’ he said as he put on water boots.
Like worker bees, they arrived by the dozen, following the direction of trained first responders.
Activity came to a stop when a SWAT vehicle with blue and red lights flashing showed up.
Uniformed members of the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office jumped out and inspected an area where a glove in the water had become a focal point.
‘They found a glove that looked like it had been worn recently,’ one of the homeowners told Daily Mail.
‘It had a nail imprint on it. Quite frankly it looked like a hand sticking out of the water.’
A gully was going to be drained of water so whatever was attached to the glove could be inspected.
However, not everyone is activity searching for bodies.
Some of the volunteers are simply there to support each other.
The train professionals are leading the way.
Behind them are a wave of volunteers with special skills.
Some might be using their personal chain saws to cut through fallen branches and clear trees out of the way.
Pictured: A mangled truck sits in the Guadalupe River on July 8 in Ingram, Texas
A wrecked home near Camp Mystic, where 27 deaths, including young campers at the all-girls Christian summer camp, have been confirmed. Ten campers and one counselor remain missing
Others might be operating equipment like fork lifts.
Volunteers are feeding the rescue teams and making sure they have what the need to find the missing.
‘If all I can do is bring them water, then I’ve done what I can,’ Molina, who loving organized hydration stations with water, cold drinks and snacks, explained.
She hauled away their trash and set up canopies for shade and chairs for a few minutes rest so first responders could rest in what is sure to be sweltering and humid day.
‘Another showed up yesterday, “I’m here to flip burgers,”’ he told her.
‘Everyone does what they can. I’ve been trying to keep busy. Keep my mind of things.’
