The search for victims of deadly flooding in Texas Hill Country is headed into its third week as officials try to pin down exactly how many people remain missing.

Professional crisis communicators watched the news conferences with dismay. Deflecting blame is not helpful if politicians want to build trust with the public, they say.

A washed-out Guadalupe River appeared stuck in time nearly two weeks after the catastrophe. Large trees laid on their sides and remnants of debris lingered throughout what was left. Some residents of the area say it's unlike anything they've seen in the river before.