Photo: REUTERS
Devastating flash flooding to Central Texas, claiming at least 119 lives and exposing critical failures in emergency warning systems that have left communities questioning how such a tragedy could have been prevented.
According to figures released by Governor Gregg Abbott, authorities are seeking more than 180 people whose fate remains unknown five days after one of the deadliest U.S. flood events in decades.
A Weekend of Tragedy
The flooding primarily struck the Guadalupe River area in Kerr County and surrounding regions, transforming what should have been a holiday celebration into one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent Texas history. Among the victims were 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls camp in Hunt, where five young girls and a counselor remain missing despite ongoing search efforts.
The scale of loss has prompted Governor Greg Abbott to vow that his state “will not stop until every missing person is found,” as rescue and recovery operations continue across the affected areas.
There is no running water currently in the town of Hunt.
Some good news out of Kerrville:
The exact number of casualties may never be fully known, as the July 4th weekend brought numerous visitors to the region, making it difficult for officials to determine precisely who was in the area when the flooding struck.
A 20-month-old boy from Austin died in the Kerr County flash flood when his family’s home became engulfed in water from the Guadalupe River. (Austin American-Statesman)
Aaron Parsley, senior editor at Texas Monthly, lost his nephew, Clay Parisher, in Kerr County.
The Warning That Never Came
Perhaps most troubling about this disaster is what didn’t happen before the waters rose. Survivors have described receiving no emergency warnings, characterizing the floods as a “pitch black wall of death” that caught residents and visitors completely off guard. The contrast between neighboring communities has been stark: while the small unincorporated town of Comfort had wailing sirens urging residents to flee, its neighbors upriver in Kerr County didn’t.
This disparity in warning systems has become a focal point of criticism directed at state and local officials. The lack of sirens in place to warn people of impending flash flooding has raised serious questions about emergency preparedness in one of the most flood-prone regions of Texas.
“…the Weather Service employee whose job it was to make sure those warnings got traction — Paul Yura, the long-serving meteorologist in charge of “warning coordination” — had recently taken an unplanned early retirement amid cuts pushed by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. He was not replaced.” — The New York Times
Water rose fast along the Guadalupe River, causing dozens of deaths, with local officials maintaining they couldn’t have seen it coming. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly defended the response, saying “nobody saw this coming” and referring to the event as a “100-year flood.” However, this characterization has done little to quell growing concerns about the adequacy of existing emergency systems.
A System Built on Informal Networks
The emergency communication infrastructure in some areas relied heavily on informal networks rather than modern warning systems. Some former Texas county commissioners had previously suggested that “river calling” – an informal phone chain used by summer camps – would be better than installing new flood sirens. This approach proved tragically inadequate when seconds counted and lives hung in the balance.
And when asked Tuesday at what time warnings were issued, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said he was focused on search and rescue.
“It’s not that easy, and you just push a button. Okay? There’s a lot more to that, and we’ve told you several times,” he said. A reporter then asked, “Did it happen?” to which Leitha responded, “I can’t tell you at this time.” — Texas Public Radio
The reliance on such informal systems highlights a broader issue with emergency preparedness in rural Texas communities, where funding constraints and political decisions have left gaps in critical infrastructure that modern technology could have filled.
Three hours and 21 minutes.
That’s how much time passed from when the National Weather Service sent out its first flash flood warning for part of Kerr County to when the first flooding reports came in from low-lying water crossings. — Texas Tribune
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she is appalled that anyone would consider blaming President Donald Trump for the deadly floods.
Legislative Failures and Missed Opportunities
The tragedy has also exposed recent legislative failures that might have prevented some of the deaths. Texas lawmakers failed to pass House Bill 13 this year, which would have established a grant program for counties to build new emergency communication infrastructure. The bill’s defeat now appears particularly consequential, with a GOP state lawmaker who represents Kerr County indicating he would likely vote differently on such legislation in the future.
This legislative failure represents a missed opportunity to address known vulnerabilities in the state’s emergency warning systems. The proposed grant program could have provided the funding necessary for communities like those in Kerr County to install modern flood warning systems that might have saved lives.
State Senator Paul Bettencourt (R) is working on a bill for the upcoming special session of the Texas legislature. The bill would provide funding to install warning sirens in more flood prone areas of the state.
The Search Continues
As rescue teams continue their grim work, the focus remains on finding the missing while communities begin to grapple with the scale of their losses. The death toll has surpassed 109 people, making this one of the deadliest flooding events in Texas history. Officials warn that many more could be unaccounted for due to the holiday weekend timing, when many visitors were in the area.
The ongoing search efforts have revealed the full scope of the disaster’s impact on families and communities throughout Central Texas. Each day brings new heartbreak as more victims are identified and families struggle to understand how such a tragedy could have occurred with so little warning.
Devastating Floods Claim Lives Across Central Texas
Travis County and the greater Austin area alone are reporting seven fatalities and 10 people still missing as of Tuesday morning.
The hardest-hit area in Travis County has been the Big Sandy Creek region in the western part of the county, where search and rescue operations continue around the clock. The flooding has been described as causing “total destruction” in some areas, with emergency responders working tirelessly to locate missing persons and assess the full scope of the damage.
An Odessa police officer was one of the victims in Travis County.
Misinformation has been a problem for Travis County residents in need.
On Monday night, false information that a dam broke and a wall of water was once again coming for the community was spread on social media. (KXAN-TV)
A Leander neighborhood is feeling isolated after a main bridge broke due to severe flooding.
The Leander High School band is mourning the loss of one of its members. (CBS Austin)
Three people have died due to flooding in Williamson County, with two victims identified as 64-year-old Sherry Merle Richardson and 22-year-old Caitlin Swallow, while the third victim’s identity, a male, remains undisclosed. Their body was discovered Tuesday.
Here’s what we know about all of the victims so far. (KXAN-TV)
Both Travis and Williamson counties have issued local disaster declarations in response to the catastrophic flooding.
Eleven roads in Williamson County remain closed, including four with pavement damage, the release stated. Seven of the closed roads are still flooded. So far, 38 properties in the county have been classified as destroyed or sustaining major damage.
One person is reported missing in both Burnet and Williamson counties.
The last person unaccounted for from this weekend’s catastrophic flood in Burnet County is Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Phillips, who was swept away while helping others get to safety.
Drone video of the damage in Kendall County, where six people lost their lives.
From Tom Green County…
Drone video from above San Angelo…
Firefighters Union Levels Serious Accusations Against AFD Chief
In the midst of the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts, a significant controversy has erupted within the Austin Fire Department (AFD) regarding the response to the flooding crisis. The Austin Firefighters Association has launched a scathing attack on Fire Chief Joel G. Baker, accusing him of deliberately denying the deployment of Austin firefighters to assist in flood-stricken Kerrville during the critical early hours of the disaster.
The union’s criticism centers on allegations that Chief Baker refused to send Austin’s highly trained swift water rescue teams to Kerrville, despite the department being recognized as the region’s top swiftwater rescue unit. Union President Bob Nicks has described the situation as “absolutely outrageous,” claiming that Baker had issued a standing order to deny all deployments to save money.
According to the firefighters’ union, Austin firefighters were specifically requested on July 2 and July 3, before the flooding reached its peak intensity. The union alleges that Baker’s refusal to deploy these specialized rescue teams may have cost lives, with the association stating that “lives were very likely lost” as a result of the department’s delayed response.
The controversy has intensified with revelations about a June 6 email from an AFD division chief that imposed a moratorium on out-of-city deployments through October 1 due to approximately $800,000 in outstanding state reimbursements. Critics argue that budget concerns were prioritized over life-saving emergency response capabilities.
Union Calls for Chief’s Removal
The Austin Firefighters Association has escalated their criticism by calling for a “no confidence” vote against Chief Baker and are seeking his removal from the position. The union argues that Baker’s leadership during this crisis has been fundamentally flawed and that his decisions have compromised the department’s ability to fulfill its emergency response obligations.
Union President Bob Nicks has been particularly vocal in his criticism, emphasizing that Austin firefighters had made a commitment to respond to the emergency but were prevented from doing so by their chief’s directive. The union’s position is that specialized rescue teams should not be constrained by budgetary considerations during life-threatening emergencies.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson responded to the AFA’s criticism:
Chief Baker Defends Department Response
In response to the mounting criticism, Chief Joel G. Baker has defended his department’s actions and response to the flooding crisis. Baker insists that AFD is doing everything possible to respond to the deadly flooding and has pushed back against accusations that he deliberately delayed critical rescue operations.
“Whenever we get a request to respond to various disasters throughout the state, we send people, a lot of people, a lot of the time, however this particular incident, this particular time, as the fire chief of the City of Austin, I was not confident in the level of reports as to what impact it would have had on the City of Austin itself as well as surrounding areas. I wanted to make sure that as the fire chief of Austin that I had enough resources in place to protect the City of Austin, Travis County, and those surrounding areas that we are responsible for mutual aid.” — AFD Chief Joel G. Baker via KXAN-TV
Baker, who has more than 30 years of experience as a firefighter in the Atlanta area and previously served as fire chief for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, has found himself under intense scrutiny just months into his tenure leading the Austin Fire Department. The controversy represents a significant challenge to his leadership and the department’s reputation during one of the most serious natural disasters in recent Travis County history.
The Austin Fire Department issued this blanket statement:
Broader Context of Texas Flooding Crisis
Climate experts have noted that Texas has experienced increasingly intense rainfall events in recent years. According to a 2024 report by Texas state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, extreme one-day precipitation has increased by 5% to 15% since the latter part of the 20th century in the region, making such catastrophic flooding events more likely.
Weather forecasting media company AccuWeather estimates that the damage caused by catastrophic Texas Hill Country flooding over the Fourth of July weekend that left more than 100 dead across Central Texas will cost $18 billion to $22 billion. (Austin American-Statesman)
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
As the immediate crisis continues, emergency responders are focusing on search and rescue operations while beginning the long process of assessing damage and planning recovery efforts. The Travis County area has seen extensive damage to infrastructure, homes, and businesses, with the full economic impact still being calculated.
The controversy surrounding Chief Baker’s response decisions adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging situation. As the community grapples with the immediate aftermath of the flooding, questions about emergency response protocols and leadership decisions during critical moments are likely to continue shaping public discourse.
FEMA has been slow to activate certain teams that coordinate response and search-and-rescue efforts, according to half a dozen current and former FEMA officials and disaster experts, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. — The New York Times
The flooding crisis has highlighted both the heroic efforts of first responders and the complex challenges of coordinating emergency response across multiple jurisdictions during a rapidly evolving disaster. As search and rescue operations continue and the community begins the recovery process, the debate over leadership and response protocols will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping future emergency preparedness strategies for Travis County and the greater Austin area.
Despite a history of mental health illnesses including schizophrenia and being discharged from the army in 2015, Shane James Jr., the Central Texas shooting spree subject, has been deemed competent to stand trial by state mental hospital officials and is scheduled to appear in court today.
The Austin Police Department reported 39 arrests for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) over the Independence Day holiday weekend.
Nearly all recipients in the current cycle of the city’s Live Music Fund grant program are in compliance with reporting requirements, according to Austin city staff. Last year, there were compliance issues. (Austin Monitor)
Elon Musk has been locked in conflict with his neighbors in West Lake Hills, the wealthy city within a city surrounded by Austin. A fence and a gate were built around his $6 million home without the approval of city officials and Musk now wants West Lake Hill’s city council to give him a pass by retroactively approving the changes to the property. (KUT 90.5)
A traffic note from TxDOT:
Travis County authorities have issued a burn ban for parts of the region.
Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is warning people to stay out of the water at Lakes Buchanan, Travis, Marble Falls, and Starcke Dam due to fast-moving floodwaters and dangerous debris from severe flooding.
Video: Newsweek
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
More slow-moving storms will affect parts of central Texas into this evening before less rainy conditions unfold, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. Regardless of additional thunderstorms, flash flood search and recovery operations will be hampered by Texas midsummer heat through this week.
Last week, a Texas appeals court issued a ruling that allows the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to release the 2023-24 school district and campus accountability ratings. This decision comes after a lawsuit filed in 2024 by approximately 30 school districts had blocked the release of these scores for over a year. (Austin American-Statesman)
After several months of investigation, a Lampasas band teacher was arrested and charged with having an improper relationship with a student, according to the Lampasas County Sheriff’s Office.
A recent incident report, sent by Brownsville City Manager Helen Ramirez, has revealed that Brownsville firefighters were held back from responding directly to the June 18 SpaceX Starship S36 explosion due to an “unprecedented danger of cascading explosions.” The report states that any such explosions could have led to “catastrophic loss of life or further property damage.” (ValleyCentral.com)
Meanwhile, SpaceX’s new $250 million mega factory at its 700,000 sq ft South Texas Starbase site aims to dramatically increase Starship production, with plans to manufacture up to 3 rockets per day when operational in late 2026.
Kelly Kenten Giles, the 64-year-old chair of the Randall County Republican Party, was booked into jail Monday facing a state felony election fraud charge.
Volunteers aiding with search and recovery efforts in the Texas Hill Country the past few days have been consumed with scouring the flood ravaged region, in search of the more than 160 people missing. (MySanAntonio)
“The conditions out there are rough. Our folks are muddy, they’re sore. You know, the debris piles… pictures don’t do it justice. This is in its own category. You know it’s own level of devastation and the loss of life at this point is. It’s gut wrenching and it’s just all-around devastating.” — Shannon Smith, director of communications and outreach for TEXSAR
Matt Lanza, a meteorologist from Houston, discusses the deadly Texas floods. How did they happen? Could people have been better warned? And what can keep this region safe in the future?
(Episode from July 8, 2025)
SPORTS
MLS: Austin FC advanced to the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals with a hard-fought win over San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday night at PayPal Park. ATXFC erased a one-goal deficit on two (2) occasions to earn a 2-2 draw after extra time and force a penalty shootout which the Verde & Black won 4-2. (Austin FC)
MLB: The bats came alive for the Texas Rangers in Anaheim last night.
Nathan Eovaldi allowed one unearned run in six innings, Jake Burger and Wyatt Langford each homered and drove in four runs, and the Texas Rangers blew out the Los Angeles Angels 13-1 on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Houston Astros have dropped their last two games, the latest being a loss at home to Cleveland. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
AL WEST STANDINGS
Get a glimpse of the Antebellum South in West Columbia, home of the Varner-Hogg Plantation, and other significant sites around town.
