Number missing in Texas floods drops from 97 to 3, Kerr County officials say

Zoom in: Officials did not immediately detail what accounted for the considerable drop, though Kerrville Police Department's Jonathan Lamb said in a Sunday statement: "This process takes time, but is essential to ensure that every lead is thoroughly followed and each person is properly accounted for."

• The Kerrville Police Department noted in a Saturday Facebook post, "Through extensive follow-up work among state and local agencies, many individuals who were initially reported as missing have been verified as safe and removed from the list."

What's next: Texas officials called a special legislative session to address the flooding, among other topics, which will convene in Austin starting Monday.

• "A select committee is expected to conduct a hearing in Kerr County on July 31," according to a Sunday post on the county's Facebook page.

What we're watching: "While the updated figure offers some relief, searchers remain focused on reuniting the three individuals who are still unaccounted for with their families," per Lamb's statement.

• "State and local officials continue to work with urgency and care to locate them, while supporting affected communities through the ongoing recovery process."

Between the lines: Scientists say the record rainfall event that triggered the flooding underscores how climate change can make extreme precipitation events even worse.

Go deeper: Texas state leaders didn't prioritize flood management