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11 July 2025
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Multiple agencies and search and rescue teams respond to Central Texas floods, more than 130 people killed
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In July 2025, destructive and deadly flooding took place in the Texas Hill Country, particularly in Kerr County, in the U.S. state of Texas. During the flooding, water levels along the Guadalupe River rose rapidly. As a result, at least 132 fatalities have been confirmed, of which at least 106 are in Kerr County, with about 170 reported missing. The flooding was caused by a mesoscale convective vortex with enhanced tropical moisture from the remnants of a short lived Tropical Storm Barry.
Flooding began on the morning of July 4, after significant rainfall accumulated across Central Texas. Six flash flood emergency warnings, which included the cities of Kerrville and Mason, were issued the same day. The Guadalupe River rose about 26ft (7.9m) in 45 minutes. It surged an estimated 29ft (8.8m) in the Hunt area, where more than 20 children were declared missing from a summer camp. July 5 saw more flash flood warnings for the Lake Travis area, which is part of the Colorado River watershed. In the span of a few hours, the equivalent to four months worth of rain fell across the Texas Hill Country region, with the highest rain totals being 20.33in (516mm). This flood was the deadliest inland flooding event in the United States since the 1976 Big Thompson River flood, surpassing flooding from Hurricane Helene in 2024.
After the disaster, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed a state disaster declaration for several counties in Central Texas and US president Donald Trump signed a federal disaster declaration for Kerr County. Over 2 000 volunteers arrived in Kerr County to help with the search and rescue. Several state and volunteer firefighters and search and rescue teams, including a team from Mexico, moved along the Guadalupe River. Over 850 people were rescued from the floods; one rescue swimmer saved 165 people.
The preparation for and response to the floods by Kerr County officials have fallen under scrutiny. The county lacked an independent flood warning system, though a former sheriff advocated for such a system nine years earlier and the county commissioner at the time noted that their area was at the highest risk for flooding. The lack of follow-through was attributed to the high cost of such a system and lack of support from the local residents. Although officials were notified when the flooding began on July 4, it took several additional hours before any county alert messages were sent out. A report came out that several buildings in Camp Mystic were removed from Federal Emergency Management Agency's 100 year flood map from 2011 to 2020 after several appeals from federal regulators, loosening oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous flood plain years before the deadly floods.
Effects
In the early morning of July 4, 6.5 inches (170mm) of rain fell in just three hours, resulting in numerous water-related rescues. In Hunt, Texas, where the two branches of the Guadalupe River meet, the river gauge recorded a 26-foot (7.9m) rise just 45 minutes before failing when it reached 29 feet (8.8m); it ultimately crested at 37.52 feet (11.44m). Downstream in Kerrville, the river surged to 21 feet (6.4m). Further downstream, in Comfort, it surged to 29.86 feet (9.10m). The city of Kerrville issued a disaster declaration on July 4 following the floods. In total, 5–11 inches (130–280mm) of rain fell on some areas that experienced significant flood effects.
Flooding continued into July 5 with two more flash flood emergencies being issued for areas around Lake Travis north of Austin. Later, a third flash flood emergency was issued for central Comal County, noting that "local law enforcement reported flooding of the Guadalupe River". 20.33 inches (516mm) of rain fell northwest of Streeter.
Search and rescue
Over 200 people were rescued from the floods over the course of July 4. Search-and-rescue operations took place on July 4 and overnight from July 4 to 5, resulting in at least 237 people being rescued from floodwaters including 167 people rescued from trees and roofs via helicopter. US Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan, who arrived onsite after 1pm, was hailed as a hero after Department of Homeland Security officials, including Secretary Kristi Noem, credited him with coordinating the evacuation of 165 people. Telecommunication outages in the area made it hard to contact many people in the region. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said on July 8 that more than 440 people had been rescued since July 4, while authorities had searched 26 miles (42km) of river. Over 2 000 volunteers helped out in the emergency operations in Kerr County alone.
Multiple groups from other US states and agencies, as well as from Mexico, joined the search and rescue. Firefighters and first responders from Mexico, specifically from Fundación 911 stationed at Acuña, Mexico, volunteered to assist in the operations along the Guadalupe River. Under the command of the Mountain Home fire department and Texas state fire department, the team of 13 brought search and rescue canines from Nuevo León. The Mexican team was brought in despite rising tensions along the Mexico–United States border and the US federal and state administration's crackdown on immigration. On July 7, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the deployment of skilled Urban Search and Rescue Team members to the Texas floods in close coordination with FEMA; the teams were experienced in major disaster rescue operations, including Hurricane Katrina and the September 11 attacks. The next day, he announced that an additional 18 highly skilled rescue team members would assist in the response.
Twenty-two Arkansas National Guardsmen, including pilots, crew chiefs and maintenance personnel, were deployed to assist with transportation of search and rescue personnel during the early morning hours of July 8, after receiving an Emergency Management Assistance Compact request from Texas. On the same day, Colorado Task Force One was activated in response to the Texas floods; the team consisted of 48 members, including four canines, spanning 16 different agencies and five affiliate member agencies. South Metro Fire Rescue sent ten members, Poudre Fire Authority sent six members and Colorado Springs Fire Department five members. On July 7, the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, dispatched fourteen Swift Water Rescue personnel to Texas to assist in the flood response. On July 9, NASA deployed two aircraft to assist state and local authorities in the recovery operation. The planes are a part of NASA's Disasters Response Coordination System, which was activated to support emergency responses and was working closely with Texas Division of Emergency Management, FEMA and two charities: Save the Children and GiveDirectly.
North Dakota's governor Kelly Armstrong authorized the North Dakota National Guard to send a MQ-9 Reaper drone to help locate survivors under the request from Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Remote controlled from Fargo, North Dakota by the North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Wing, the MQ-9 Reaper is being used to collect aerial surveillance, search for the missing and assess damage in inaccessible areas. On July 11, Ohio Task Force One was requested to assist with search and rescue operations in Texas after receiving an activation order from the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue System for a Canine Mission Ready Package. Three team members, alongside two K-9s, were sent to assist in the operation and search for missing people. Ohio's governor Mike DeWine also activated the Ohio State Highway Patrol Mobile Field Force after calling Abbott to offer his support to the victims. A team from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was also sent to Texas to help with recovery efforts. Dozens of active and former Navy SEALS volunteered to assist with the search and recovery efforts, with more than 30 joining in the operations.
Minnesota's governor Tim Walz sent out the state's most "elite" K9 units from Minnesota Task Force one to aid in the search and recovery operations in central Texas, with the governor office claiming the K9 units were equipped for 24-hour operations and can work with any area. Arizona Task Force One deployed a team of 49 to Texas, the team including live-find dogs, medical personnel, structural engineers and technical rescue specialists. The team also brought vehicles and boats, including boats that can gain access to inaccessible areas. Structural collapse gear, hazardous materials equipment and communications tools were also deployed. Eight members from the Swiftwater Rescue Team, apart of the Virginia Beach Fire Department, were sent to central Texas to assist in the search and rescue efforts, with the first responders being send out to July 6. Nevada Task Force One was sent to assist in the recovery efforts, with a team of 47, including responders from several fire department in Nevada, along with four K9 units.
Officials urged untrained civilians to stay away from active search zones because of safety risks and coordination challenges. They also criticized the influx of sightseers and the use of unauthorized drones for complicating rescue operations. On July 7, a private drone was illegally flown into temporarily restricted airspace over Kerrville and crashed into a rescue helicopter, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing, and damaging and rendering unusable a critical piece of emergency response equipment. On July 13, search operations were suspended due to renewed threats of major flash flooding
Casualties
As of July 10, there were 132 people confirmed dead in the floods. At least 106 deaths were confirmed in Kerr County (70 adults and 36 children), nine in Travis County, eight in Kendall County, five in Burnet County, three in Williamson County, and one in Tom Green County.
Several of the fatalities in Kerr County were young girls who were staying at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp located 6 miles (10km) southwest of Hunt. On July 4, 27 were declared missing from Camp Mystic. The number of girls missing dropped to 10 on July 7 with the same camp counsellor still missing. Camp Mystic director Dick Eastland, who purchased the camp in 1974, was confirmed to be among those dead as well. On July 7, CNN reported that 27 campers and counsellors had died in floods at Camp Mystic and that ten girls and a counsellor were still missing. By July 9, five girls and one counsellor remained missing.
As of July 9, at least 166 people were missing across several counties: 161 in Kerr County, 4 in Travis County and 1 in Burnet County.
Aftermath
The grocery chain H-E-B deployed its mobile kitchens and disaster relief trucks, committing a $5 million donation to aid and recovery. All Hands and Hearts partnered with Airbnb to support first responders, search and rescue teams, and families who survived the floods, with Airbnb providing emergency temporary housing for first responders, people looking for missing loved ones wanting to stay near search and rescue efforts and residents with heavily damaged or destroyed homes, working with local nonprofits to identify those in greatest need. In response to the floods, the World Central Kitchen Relief team was mobilised in central Texas to support the communities impacted by the floods by providing food and waters to anyone in need, including first responders.
Samaritan's Purse sent a disaster relief unit to central Texas, with the unit equipped with tools and relief supplies from Southwest Ministry Centre in Coppell, Texas. Volunteers from the organization were also prepared to assist families in recovery efforts. Texas non-profit Operation Airdrop has mobilised aircraft, crews, and volunteer pilots to deliver emergency supplies to people stranded in hard-to-reach areas. First responders and firefighters from Acuna, Mexico, located across the border from Del Rio, Texas, were deployed by nonprofit Foundation 911 on July 9 to aid in search and rescue efforts in Kerrville, Kerr County. T-Mobile donated $500,000 to support relief efforts in Kerr County to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.
Walmart, its foundation and Sam's Club partnered up to support communities in South and Central Texas after the floods. These three companies and organization committed up to $500 000 in grants and donations, including up to $250 000 match of customer and member donations through online or in-stores or clubs in Texas. At the Walmart Supercentre in Kerrville, Operation BBQ relief offered free meals, with Tide's Loads of Hope laundry trucks and showers provided by Matthew 25: Ministries, Procter & Gamble and Walmart will be deployed to the area. Walmart and their charity foundation will also fund local partners like the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army with food, water and other supplies for the relief efforts.
On Water Street in Kerrville, a large makeshift memorial was erected on a chain-link fence that separates the Guadalupe River from downtown Kerrville, with the memorial filled with photographs of the victims who were killed, flowers, and signs. On the evening of July 11, 300 people showed up at the memorial for a vigil with speakers from faith leader and survivors recounting their stories. Basketball teams Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and San Antonio Spurs partnered up to provide support for flood relief efforts, with the teams making t-shirts with the slogan "Texas Strong" for healing funds to support victims impacted by the floods. Signarama, a small business based in Boerne, Texas, made several "Hill Country strong", with the business and family donating every sign and sending proceeds to The Community Foundation in Kerrville. In total, The Community Foundation raised $30 million in flood relief.
Sources: Various
Flooding began on the morning of July 4, after significant rainfall accumulated across Central Texas. Six flash flood emergency warnings, which included the cities of Kerrville and Mason, were issued the same day. The Guadalupe River rose about 26ft (7.9m) in 45 minutes. It surged an estimated 29ft (8.8m) in the Hunt area, where more than 20 children were declared missing from a summer camp. July 5 saw more flash flood warnings for the Lake Travis area, which is part of the Colorado River watershed. In the span of a few hours, the equivalent to four months worth of rain fell across the Texas Hill Country region, with the highest rain totals being 20.33in (516mm). This flood was the deadliest inland flooding event in the United States since the 1976 Big Thompson River flood, surpassing flooding from Hurricane Helene in 2024.
After the disaster, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed a state disaster declaration for several counties in Central Texas and US president Donald Trump signed a federal disaster declaration for Kerr County. Over 2 000 volunteers arrived in Kerr County to help with the search and rescue. Several state and volunteer firefighters and search and rescue teams, including a team from Mexico, moved along the Guadalupe River. Over 850 people were rescued from the floods; one rescue swimmer saved 165 people.
The preparation for and response to the floods by Kerr County officials have fallen under scrutiny. The county lacked an independent flood warning system, though a former sheriff advocated for such a system nine years earlier and the county commissioner at the time noted that their area was at the highest risk for flooding. The lack of follow-through was attributed to the high cost of such a system and lack of support from the local residents. Although officials were notified when the flooding began on July 4, it took several additional hours before any county alert messages were sent out. A report came out that several buildings in Camp Mystic were removed from Federal Emergency Management Agency's 100 year flood map from 2011 to 2020 after several appeals from federal regulators, loosening oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous flood plain years before the deadly floods.
Effects
In the early morning of July 4, 6.5 inches (170mm) of rain fell in just three hours, resulting in numerous water-related rescues. In Hunt, Texas, where the two branches of the Guadalupe River meet, the river gauge recorded a 26-foot (7.9m) rise just 45 minutes before failing when it reached 29 feet (8.8m); it ultimately crested at 37.52 feet (11.44m). Downstream in Kerrville, the river surged to 21 feet (6.4m). Further downstream, in Comfort, it surged to 29.86 feet (9.10m). The city of Kerrville issued a disaster declaration on July 4 following the floods. In total, 5–11 inches (130–280mm) of rain fell on some areas that experienced significant flood effects.
Flooding continued into July 5 with two more flash flood emergencies being issued for areas around Lake Travis north of Austin. Later, a third flash flood emergency was issued for central Comal County, noting that "local law enforcement reported flooding of the Guadalupe River". 20.33 inches (516mm) of rain fell northwest of Streeter.
Search and rescue
Over 200 people were rescued from the floods over the course of July 4. Search-and-rescue operations took place on July 4 and overnight from July 4 to 5, resulting in at least 237 people being rescued from floodwaters including 167 people rescued from trees and roofs via helicopter. US Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan, who arrived onsite after 1pm, was hailed as a hero after Department of Homeland Security officials, including Secretary Kristi Noem, credited him with coordinating the evacuation of 165 people. Telecommunication outages in the area made it hard to contact many people in the region. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said on July 8 that more than 440 people had been rescued since July 4, while authorities had searched 26 miles (42km) of river. Over 2 000 volunteers helped out in the emergency operations in Kerr County alone.
Multiple groups from other US states and agencies, as well as from Mexico, joined the search and rescue. Firefighters and first responders from Mexico, specifically from Fundación 911 stationed at Acuña, Mexico, volunteered to assist in the operations along the Guadalupe River. Under the command of the Mountain Home fire department and Texas state fire department, the team of 13 brought search and rescue canines from Nuevo León. The Mexican team was brought in despite rising tensions along the Mexico–United States border and the US federal and state administration's crackdown on immigration. On July 7, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the deployment of skilled Urban Search and Rescue Team members to the Texas floods in close coordination with FEMA; the teams were experienced in major disaster rescue operations, including Hurricane Katrina and the September 11 attacks. The next day, he announced that an additional 18 highly skilled rescue team members would assist in the response.
Twenty-two Arkansas National Guardsmen, including pilots, crew chiefs and maintenance personnel, were deployed to assist with transportation of search and rescue personnel during the early morning hours of July 8, after receiving an Emergency Management Assistance Compact request from Texas. On the same day, Colorado Task Force One was activated in response to the Texas floods; the team consisted of 48 members, including four canines, spanning 16 different agencies and five affiliate member agencies. South Metro Fire Rescue sent ten members, Poudre Fire Authority sent six members and Colorado Springs Fire Department five members. On July 7, the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, dispatched fourteen Swift Water Rescue personnel to Texas to assist in the flood response. On July 9, NASA deployed two aircraft to assist state and local authorities in the recovery operation. The planes are a part of NASA's Disasters Response Coordination System, which was activated to support emergency responses and was working closely with Texas Division of Emergency Management, FEMA and two charities: Save the Children and GiveDirectly.
North Dakota's governor Kelly Armstrong authorized the North Dakota National Guard to send a MQ-9 Reaper drone to help locate survivors under the request from Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Remote controlled from Fargo, North Dakota by the North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Wing, the MQ-9 Reaper is being used to collect aerial surveillance, search for the missing and assess damage in inaccessible areas. On July 11, Ohio Task Force One was requested to assist with search and rescue operations in Texas after receiving an activation order from the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue System for a Canine Mission Ready Package. Three team members, alongside two K-9s, were sent to assist in the operation and search for missing people. Ohio's governor Mike DeWine also activated the Ohio State Highway Patrol Mobile Field Force after calling Abbott to offer his support to the victims. A team from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was also sent to Texas to help with recovery efforts. Dozens of active and former Navy SEALS volunteered to assist with the search and recovery efforts, with more than 30 joining in the operations.
Minnesota's governor Tim Walz sent out the state's most "elite" K9 units from Minnesota Task Force one to aid in the search and recovery operations in central Texas, with the governor office claiming the K9 units were equipped for 24-hour operations and can work with any area. Arizona Task Force One deployed a team of 49 to Texas, the team including live-find dogs, medical personnel, structural engineers and technical rescue specialists. The team also brought vehicles and boats, including boats that can gain access to inaccessible areas. Structural collapse gear, hazardous materials equipment and communications tools were also deployed. Eight members from the Swiftwater Rescue Team, apart of the Virginia Beach Fire Department, were sent to central Texas to assist in the search and rescue efforts, with the first responders being send out to July 6. Nevada Task Force One was sent to assist in the recovery efforts, with a team of 47, including responders from several fire department in Nevada, along with four K9 units.
Officials urged untrained civilians to stay away from active search zones because of safety risks and coordination challenges. They also criticized the influx of sightseers and the use of unauthorized drones for complicating rescue operations. On July 7, a private drone was illegally flown into temporarily restricted airspace over Kerrville and crashed into a rescue helicopter, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing, and damaging and rendering unusable a critical piece of emergency response equipment. On July 13, search operations were suspended due to renewed threats of major flash flooding
Casualties
As of July 10, there were 132 people confirmed dead in the floods. At least 106 deaths were confirmed in Kerr County (70 adults and 36 children), nine in Travis County, eight in Kendall County, five in Burnet County, three in Williamson County, and one in Tom Green County.
Several of the fatalities in Kerr County were young girls who were staying at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp located 6 miles (10km) southwest of Hunt. On July 4, 27 were declared missing from Camp Mystic. The number of girls missing dropped to 10 on July 7 with the same camp counsellor still missing. Camp Mystic director Dick Eastland, who purchased the camp in 1974, was confirmed to be among those dead as well. On July 7, CNN reported that 27 campers and counsellors had died in floods at Camp Mystic and that ten girls and a counsellor were still missing. By July 9, five girls and one counsellor remained missing.
As of July 9, at least 166 people were missing across several counties: 161 in Kerr County, 4 in Travis County and 1 in Burnet County.
Aftermath
The grocery chain H-E-B deployed its mobile kitchens and disaster relief trucks, committing a $5 million donation to aid and recovery. All Hands and Hearts partnered with Airbnb to support first responders, search and rescue teams, and families who survived the floods, with Airbnb providing emergency temporary housing for first responders, people looking for missing loved ones wanting to stay near search and rescue efforts and residents with heavily damaged or destroyed homes, working with local nonprofits to identify those in greatest need. In response to the floods, the World Central Kitchen Relief team was mobilised in central Texas to support the communities impacted by the floods by providing food and waters to anyone in need, including first responders.
Samaritan's Purse sent a disaster relief unit to central Texas, with the unit equipped with tools and relief supplies from Southwest Ministry Centre in Coppell, Texas. Volunteers from the organization were also prepared to assist families in recovery efforts. Texas non-profit Operation Airdrop has mobilised aircraft, crews, and volunteer pilots to deliver emergency supplies to people stranded in hard-to-reach areas. First responders and firefighters from Acuna, Mexico, located across the border from Del Rio, Texas, were deployed by nonprofit Foundation 911 on July 9 to aid in search and rescue efforts in Kerrville, Kerr County. T-Mobile donated $500,000 to support relief efforts in Kerr County to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.
Walmart, its foundation and Sam's Club partnered up to support communities in South and Central Texas after the floods. These three companies and organization committed up to $500 000 in grants and donations, including up to $250 000 match of customer and member donations through online or in-stores or clubs in Texas. At the Walmart Supercentre in Kerrville, Operation BBQ relief offered free meals, with Tide's Loads of Hope laundry trucks and showers provided by Matthew 25: Ministries, Procter & Gamble and Walmart will be deployed to the area. Walmart and their charity foundation will also fund local partners like the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army with food, water and other supplies for the relief efforts.
On Water Street in Kerrville, a large makeshift memorial was erected on a chain-link fence that separates the Guadalupe River from downtown Kerrville, with the memorial filled with photographs of the victims who were killed, flowers, and signs. On the evening of July 11, 300 people showed up at the memorial for a vigil with speakers from faith leader and survivors recounting their stories. Basketball teams Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and San Antonio Spurs partnered up to provide support for flood relief efforts, with the teams making t-shirts with the slogan "Texas Strong" for healing funds to support victims impacted by the floods. Signarama, a small business based in Boerne, Texas, made several "Hill Country strong", with the business and family donating every sign and sending proceeds to The Community Foundation in Kerrville. In total, The Community Foundation raised $30 million in flood relief.
Sources: Various
