Deadly July 4th Floods Overwhelm Guadalupe River Basin
“When the river comes up like that…there’s no time…there’s just no time.” — A resident of an RV campground in Kerr County
Central Texas is reeling from devastating flash floods that struck early Friday morning and continued into Saturday, leaving at least 70 people dead and dozens still missing, including 27 girls from a summer camp. By Saturday, flash flooding was occurring in Travis, Williamson, Burnet, Kendall and Tom Green counties.
Travis County, home to Austin, has confirmed four fatalities from the flooding disaster. Emergency responders have conducted dozens of water rescues since the flooding began, with officials reporting that rescue calls have been concentrated in northwest Travis County. The county’s emergency services have been overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster, with approximately 10 people still reported missing in the area.
Travis County Emergency Services District 1 led many of the rescue efforts in the area. The focus has been on northwest Travis County and eastern Burnet County, where the flooding has been most severe.
Shoal Creek rages through downtown Austin Saturday afternoon.
In Burnet County, at least two people have been confirmed dead, with another six individuals still missing according to Derek Marchio, the county’s emergency management coordinator. The county has conducted more than 50 rescues since the flooding crisis began, with rescue operations focused on the eastern portion of the county where the situation has been most severe.
Georgetown…
Several people remain missing in Williamson County.
Kendall County has reported one confirmed fatality from the flooding event. While the death toll in this county appears lower than its neighboring areas, the impact has still been significant for the community.
The flooding was triggered by an extraordinary weather event that saw between 4 to 6 inches of rainfall across the region, with some areas receiving over 10 inches of rain in just a few hours.
Much of northeast San Angelo in Tom Green County (one fatality reported) was inaccessible after major flooding.
The catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River has become one of the deadliest natural disasters in the region’s recent history and is currently the country’s second-largest natural disaster to date in 2025, next to the California wildfires back in January.
Timeline of the Disaster
The flooding began in the early morning hours of July 4th when torrential rains deluged the Central Texas Hill Country. Between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., the Guadalupe River surged dramatically, with water levels rising as much as 30 feet in a matter of hours. The sudden and extreme nature of the flooding caught many residents and officials off guard.
Six flash flood emergencies were issued that day, affecting cities including Kerrville and Mason. Local officials reported that the speed and intensity of the flooding was unprecedented, with the river overflowing its banks in minutes rather than hours.
Camp Mystic Tragedy
Among the most heart-wrenching aspects of the disaster is the fate of Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp in Hunt. The camp was severely impacted by the floodwaters, with 11 girls still missing as of the latest reports. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confirmed that dozens of campers were affected when the flash floods swept through the facility.
Rescue efforts continue at the camp site, where debris and damaged cabins bear witness to the power of the floodwaters. The camp, which has been a beloved institution in the Texas Hill Country, has become the focal point of one of the most intensive search and rescue operations in the state’s history.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha has been leading local response efforts there, emphasizing that rescue operations are ongoing but cautioning that it may take considerable time to account for everyone affected by the flooding.
Statewide Response
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has mobilized state resources for the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts. The governor stated that the state will work around the clock to find people who may be stranded and unable to call for help. Federal aid has also been promised, with officials coordinating with state authorities to provide assistance.
Weather Service Warnings and Controversy
The National Weather Service issued early-morning warnings about “life-threatening flooding” along the Guadalupe River. However, the rapid onset of the flooding has raised questions about warning systems and preparedness. Some officials have pointed to the need for upgraded flood warning technologies, citing systems that have been neglected for too long.
Texas officials have launched pointed criticism at weather forecasters, particularly the National Weather Service. Local and state officials were quick to point to weather forecasts that did not accurately predict the intensity of the rainfall. with Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd stating that initial forecasts predicted up to 6 inches of rain but “did not predict the amount of rain that we saw” when up to 12 inches actually fell. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly echoed these concerns, telling reporters the county had no reason to believe the flooding would reach the devastating scale it did.
The criticism comes amid broader concerns about recent staffing cuts at the National Weather Service following budget reductions, though NWS officials defended their response, noting they issued multiple flash flood warnings starting at 1:14 a.m. Friday and escalated to a flash flood emergency at 4:03 a.m. as conditions rapidly deteriorated in the Hill Country region.
Local officials have acknowledged being caught off guard by the severity of the rainfall and subsequent flooding, particularly given that much of the torrential rain fell during overnight hours when many residents were sleeping.
Historical Context
The Guadalupe River basin has experienced deadly flooding before. In 1987, ten teenagers were killed when a bus and van leaving a church camp encountered floodwaters caused by 5 to 10 inches of rainfall in the upper headwaters of the river basin. The current disaster appears to be significantly more severe in terms of both scope and casualties.
Community Impact
The flooding has devastated communities throughout the region, with local television footage showing empty foundations where houses once stood, everything else swept away by the raging waters. The disaster has united communities in grief and determination to support recovery efforts.
As floodwaters begin to recede, the full extent of the damage is becoming clear. Beyond the tragic loss of life, the flooding has caused extensive property damage and displaced numerous families throughout the Hill Country region.
Ongoing Search and Rescue
Search and rescue operations continue across the affected areas, with teams working to locate those still missing. The challenging terrain and debris-filled waterways have complicated rescue efforts, but authorities remain committed to finding everyone affected by the flooding.
Barton Springs Pool was closed Saturday. No word on when it will reopen.
BRIEFLY, IN OTHER NEWS…
One person is dead following a single-vehicle accident Saturday evening.
A car in a creek in Pflugerville Saturday afternoon prompted a response from AFD.
Austin firefighters responded to a house fire Saturday in which one resident was rescued.
Later in the day yesterday, AFD responded to a garage fire.
WEATHER
Weather records were broken in the ATX Saturday.
SPORTS
MLS: Last night’s scheduled match between Austin FC and Los Angeles FC was postponed due to the ongoing flooding situation in the region.
“Austin FC expresses its deepest sympathy for those affected by the devastating flooding that is impacting communities across Central Texas. Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and neighbors who have lost their lives, and we urge that those who are able find their way to safety. We also want to express our gratitude and respect for those who are responding to the crisis with life saving measures.” — Austin FC
A new date for the match will be announced soon. Tickets for Saturday night’s match will be valid for the rescheduled date.
MLB: Victories out in California last night for both the Rangers and Astros.
ON THE SCHEDULE
AL WEST STANDINGS
The magnitude of this weekend’s flooding in Texas is still being processed. Video footage can only give one an idea of what flood waters can do and how dangerous they are.
Drone footage captured the catastrophic floods that heavily damaged areas.
