The devastating flash floods that struck Central Texas over a week ago have claimed at least 129 lives, making this one of the deadliest natural disasters in the state’s recent history. The tragedy has particularly devastated Kerr County, where the majority of casualties occurred, recording at least 103 deaths, including 36 children, prompting a presidential visit and ongoing rescue operations as communities grapple with unprecedented destruction.
At least 150 people are still missing, including 140 in Kerr County, which bore the brunt of the devastation. The search for missing persons has been particularly heartbreaking, with families gradually confirming the deaths of loved ones, including children from Camp Mystic, as a grim recovery effort continues along the Guadalupe River.
The flooding began early Friday morning, July 4th, when parts of central Texas saw a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours overnight into Friday, prompting multiple flash flood emergencies. The intensity of the rainfall was described by meteorologists as a one-in-100-years event, overwhelming the region’s drainage systems and causing the Guadalupe River to rise to unprecedented levels.
The flooding struck with little warning, catching many residents and visitors off guard. Among the most tragic incidents was the impact on Camp Mystic, a children’s summer camp in Hunt, where dozens of young campers and counselors were caught in the rising waters.
Emergency responders have mounted an extensive rescue operation since the flooding began. Around 237 people have been rescued or evacuated so far, many by helicopter, according to early reports, though officials have conducted more than 160 air rescues, with 850 uninjured and eight injured people rescued overall as operations expanded.
The scale of the rescue effort has been enormous, involving multiple agencies and resources from across Texas and neighboring states. Search and rescue teams have been working around the clock, using helicopters, boats, and ground teams to locate survivors and recover victims from the floodwaters.
Presidential Visit and Federal Response
President Donald Trump visited Kerr County on Friday, along with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to survey the flood damage and meet with affected families and first responders.
Joining him were first lady Melania Trump, Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, HUD Secretary Scott Turner and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, among others.
EXTENDED RAW VIDEO OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S VISIT TO TEXAS
On Sunday, Trump approved the governor’s request for a major disaster declaration for Kerr County. The approval allows qualifying Texans who sustained damage to apply for grant funding to assist with repair and recovery expenses.
A veteran official from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who chose to remain anonymous, shared concerns for the disaster season with The Washington Post two days before the deadly Texas floods. The official said a primary concern “was the agency’s ability to quickly deploy specialized search and rescue teams. The Trump administration’s new rules mean disaster specialists can no longer ‘make decisions’ on their own.”
Some former and current officials suggest the federal response could have been more effective were it not for changes made by the Trump administration. (New York Times)
Tom Moser, who served as Kerr County commissioner from 2012 to 2021, said he advocated for a flood warning system with sirens in 2016 after a deadly flood in nearby Wimberley. That system was never built because commissioners were denied funding from state grants and there was public pushback. (Chron)
President Trump slammed a reporter, calling her “an evil person” for asking a question about his administration’s cutting of FEMA services.
How does FEMA work?
Community Response and Support
The disaster has prompted an outpouring of support from across Texas and beyond. H-E-B grocery chain deployed its mobile kitchens and disaster relief trucks. The chain, whose first store was in Kerrville, also committed a $5 million donation to support recovery efforts.
The parents of a third Austin child confirmed Friday that their daughter died at Camp Mystic in Kerr County.
Nine deaths have been confirmed in Travis County after what County Judge Andy Brown called “an extremely deadly and destructive flood event.” Four people remain missing, as of Friday
Frustration continues to mount in the Sandy Creek area west of Leander.
Travis County officials rejected aid from Leander during the Sandy Creek flood response, leaving families stranded and unaccounted for, according to Mayor Christine DeLisle.
The Austin Firefighters Association has released the results of the “no confidence” vote for Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker.
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A child is dead and three adults are injured after a crash in South Austin yesterday.
Late last night, ATCEMS responded to a motorcycle crash.
Austin police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating two robbery suspects.
Most of the Highland Lakes chain is now open for recreational use. However, LCRA officials are advising everyone to exercise caution if they’re heading out on the water this weekend. Some officials even suggest staying out of the water entirely due to current conditions.
Lake Marble Falls remains closed after being shut down earlier this week. (FOX7 Austin)
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
A San Antonio man has been arrested for allegedly making threats against President Donald Trump on a news station’s social media.
Robert Herrera, 52, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly making threats against President Trump on a local news station’s Facebook page on posts about his visit to the Texas Hill Country. (CBS Austin)
Tedd L. Mitchell will retire from his post as leader of the Texas Tech University System within the year, the longtime chancellor announced Friday. (Texas Tribune)
Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson was initially set to be executed last year in connection with his 2003 conviction in the death of his 2-year-old daughter. He’s claimed his innocence. A new hearing on a new execution date has been set.
Texas leaders have repeatedly claimed the state’s voting maps are race blind. Until the Trump DOJ disagreed.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign has raised $2.9 million in Q2, this coming a day after his wife announced she has filed for divorce from the conservative leader.
Paxton has quietly scrubbed all mention of his wife, State Senator Angela Paxton, from his official biography—just one day after she filed for divorce citing, quote, “biblical grounds.” (Chron)
On what was supposed to be the long holiday weekend, quickly rising flood waters devastated many parts of Central Texas, killing more than a hundred men, women, and children and leaving even more missing. This week on Inside the Investigation, the KXAN team breaks down the desperate search for missing campers and loved ones and explains the concerns surrounding preparedness and response from officials at all levels.
Texas Republican Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne believes local and state governments are better equipped to handle the Central Texas flooding crisis, with the federal government providing support rather than Congress playing a major role.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott just called a surprise special legislative session with a big-ticket item: redrawing the state’s congressional maps. Why now? And why does it matter? Lauren Egan sits down with John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, to unpack the high-stakes political motives behind this move. With pressure from Donald Trump’s political team, the Texas GOP is pushing to redraw districts that could reshape control of the House in 2026 and beyond.
SPORTS
MLS: Austin FC will be back at home tonight, when the VERDE & Black take on New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. CT at Q2 Stadium. (Austin FC)
Meanwhile, Major League Soccer announced that Austin FC’s regular season home match vs. LAFC has been rescheduled to Sunday, October 12 at 5:00 p.m. CT. The match was originally scheduled for July 5 but was postponed due to severe weather in Central Texas.
MLB: Game 1 goes to the Rangers.
Wyatt Langford homered with a career-high tying four hits and Adolis García added a solo shot to lead the Texas Rangers to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night. Houston has now lost five straight. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
AL WEST STANDINGS
The Houston Astros are calling up their No. 1 minor-league prospect to provide a boost for their offense. Second baseman Brice Matthews has been called up from Triple-A Sugar Land and is in the starting lineup for Friday’s matchup with the Texas Rangers, batting eighth. (Yahoo! Sports)
Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
— Marty Robbins, “El Paso”
Travel tips if you’re thinking about heading down to the border at El Paso.
