TEXAS: At least 82 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more are still missing after devastating flash floods swept through central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend. President Donald Trump called the disaster a “100-year catastrophe” and said he plans to visit the affected areas, “probably on Friday.”
“This is a 100-year catastrophe, and it’s just so horrible to watch,” Trump said, expressing shock at the scale of devastation caused by the torrential rains and flooding.
What We Know So Far
Death Toll Expected to Rise
Texas Department of Public Safety chief Freeman Martin cautioned that the number of casualties is likely to increase. “You will see the death toll rise today,” he said during a press briefing.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott reported that at least 41 people remain missing across the state in flood-affected areas.
Worst-Hit Areas
The Texas Hill Country, particularly Kerr County, has been the epicenter of the disaster. Flash floods along the Guadalupe River have claimed at least 68 lives, including 28 children. Many more, including 10 girls and a camp counselor from Camp Mystic in Hunt, are still unaccounted for.
In Travis County, six people were killed as floodwaters inundated homes and swept away vehicles. About 50 people were rescued, with officials shifting from emergency operations to recovery, though flood alerts remain in effect.
Other affected areas include:
- Burnet County: 3 dead, 5 missing
- Kendall County: 2 dead
- Williamson County: 2 dead
- Tom Green County: 1 dead (a woman found outside a submerged car in San Angelo)
Timing Turned Tragic
The floods struck during the height of the long Independence Day weekend, catching many campers and holiday visitors off-guard in the early morning hours. The Texas Hill Country, known for its flash-flood susceptibility, was hit by nearly 12 inches (30 cm) of rain overnight on Friday. The region’s dry and compact soil accelerated runoff, sending massive volumes of water racing into creeks and rivers instead of being absorbed.
By 4 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a dire flash flood warning, escalating from earlier advisories issued Thursday. In just 45 minutes, the Guadalupe River rose an astonishing 26 feet (8 meters), submerging parts of Kerrville and surrounding areas.
Alarms Sounded, But Disaster Unfolded
Despite timely alerts and flood advisories, local officials admitted that the intensity of rainfall far exceeded forecasts. At Mo-Ranch Camp in Hunt, hundreds of campers and church conference attendees were evacuated to higher ground. Nearby camps Rio Vista and Sierra Vista had just concluded summer sessions and were monitoring the situation closely.
Still, the ferocity of the storm caught many communities off-guard. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said that a comprehensive review of emergency response protocols will be undertaken. “We’ll be assessing how well warnings were communicated and whether more could have been done to protect the public,” Rice stated.
With more rain forecast in the coming days, search and rescue operations remain urgent. Emergency crews are continuing to scour flood-hit areas, hoping to locate survivors amid the destruction.
