A flash flood triggered by an extraordinary deluge has devastated parts of the Texas Hill Country, leaving at least 24 people dead and many more unaccounted for, including dozens of children from a nearby summer camp in Kerr County.
Sudden and Severe Flash Flooding
On July 4, intense storms dumped up to 10 inches of rain within hours, causing the Guadalupe River to surge dramatically—rising over 20 feet in just under an hour, and at one reporting point, nearly 30 feet en.wikipedia.org+13reuters.com+13foxweather.com+13. This rapid inundation overwhelmed the riverbanks and swept through campsites, homes, and recreational areas.
Law enforcement and rescue teams described the event as a “mass-casualty incident,” citing the speed and scale of the flood texastribune.org.
Rescue and Recovery Underway
24 fatalities confirmed, predominantly in Kerr County, with an additional death in nearby Kendall County being investigated en.wikipedia.org+3reuters.com+3texastribune.org+3.
Over 200 people rescued or evacuated, including 167 airlifted by helicopter houstonchronicle.com+6reuters.com+6mysanantonio.com+6.
Authorities report 23 to 25 girls missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp on the river mysanantonio.com+8reuters.com+8texastribune.org+8.
Search operations remain ongoing, with state emergency services, National Guard, US Coast Guard, and FEMA all activated en.wikipedia.org+6mysanantonio.com+6abcnews.go.com+6.
Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster and deployed limitless state assets, including helicopters, boats, rescue teams, and a thousand personnel youtube.com+12mysanantonio.com+12cbsnews.com+12.
Why This Happened Without Warning
Officials say forecast models anticipated heavy rain, but not at the scale that occurred. The rainfall far exceeded predictions—up to four times more in some areas—leaving little time for alert or evacuation .
Kerr County officials reported that the flash flood emergency was issued only after waters had breached critical levels—leaving many with virtually no warning en.wikipedia.org+7reuters.com+7theguardian.com+7.
Ongoing Concerns and Continued Risks
More rain expected across Central Texas, increasing flood hazards in areas from San Antonio to Waco over the next 24–48 hours reuters.com+1texastribune.org+1.
Officials are urging residents to stay off the roads, avoid non‑essential travel, and heed all emergency advisories.
Emergency coordinators stressed that non-residents should avoid coming into affected zones to allow first responders to operate freely foxweather.com+1theguardian.com+1mysanantonio.com.
What This Means Going Forward
This tragedy underscores the destructive power of sudden, extreme weather even in areas familiar with flooding. It calls attention to the need for more nuanced early-warning systems and community readiness, particularly during seasonal storm events.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families impacted. We stand with the communities of Kerr County, campers from Camp Mystic, and all those affected.
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