On July 4, 2025, destructive and deadly flooding took place in the Hill Country region of the U.S. state of Texas. During the flooding, water levels along the Guadalupe River rose rapidly. As a result, 136 people were killed and 3 remain missing, with 117 of deaths occurring in Kerr County. The flooding was caused by a mesoscale convective vortex with enhanced tropical moisture.
Flooding began on the morning of July 4, after significant rainfall accumulated across Central Texas. Six flash flood emergencies, which included the cities of Kerrville and Mason, were issued the same day. The Guadalupe River rose about 26 ft (8 m) in 45 minutes, surging an estimated 29 ft (8.8 m) in the Hunt area, where more than 20 children were declared missing from a summer camp. July 5 saw more flash flood warnings for Burnet, Williamson, and Travis counties, including Lake Travis, which is part of the Colorado River watershed, and the lower San Gabriel River (Texas). The worst affected area in NW Travis County was the Sandy Creek neighborhood, which saw devastating damage in the wake of the floods. A total of 9 people died in Travis County, 3 in Williamson County, and 5 in Burnet County. In the span of a few hours, the equivalent of four months worth of rain fell across the Texas Hill Country region, with the highest rain totals being 20.33 in (516 mm). The 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.
On July 12, the Weather Prediction Center declared a moderate risk for the same area in Central Texas, with the potential for significant to major flash flooding. Throughout the overnight hours of July 12 into the next day, several flash flood warnings were issued, including a flash flood emergency for San Saba County. The resulting additional rainfall caused the Lampasas River to rise over 30 ft (9.1 m).
After the disaster, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration for several counties in Central Texas, and U.S. 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. Numerous firefighter and search and rescue teams from around the U.S. scoured the Guadalupe River for survivors and victims. Various organizations responded to the area with food, equipment and manpower.
Kerr County did not have a dedicated flood warning system, despite prior proposals from local officials citing the area's high flood risk. For National Flood Insurance Program purposes administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the floodplain or special flood hazard area is defined as the area that would be flooded by a base flood which "has a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year", also known as a 100-year flood. The 2011 Kerr County flood insurance rate map showed Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' summer camp, as being in a special flood hazard area. Following various appeals from the camp, several buildings were removed from the hazard area, as the camp continued to operate and expanded in and around the flood plain.
Meteorological synopsis and background
Late on July 3, 2025, a broader mid-level trough was situated over the southwestern U.S. already containing tropical east Pacific remnant moisture. This system developed into thunderstorms which stalled over Central Texas, causing heavy rains that led to deadly flooding in that region on July 4–7, especially along the Guadalupe River. Altogether, four months' worth of rain fell, causing the Guadalupe River to rise about 26 ft (8 m) in 45 minutes.
Central Texas, specifically the Hill Country region, is prone to major floods. Due to the heightened risk for flash flooding, the area is referred to as Flash Flood Alley. The ground in this part of Texas is predominantly limestone, covered by a shallow layer of soil, and hill slopes are steep. Consequently, rainwater tends to run off quickly, funneling into rivers during rainstorms, which occur when warm moist air from the Gulf, pushed up over the Balcones Escarpment, condenses and dumps water. With climate change, the warming atmosphere holds more water, increasing downpours and flood risk. The Guadalupe River and several surrounding rivers in the region have flooded multiple times in recent decades, often with deadly consequences. This includes flooding in July 1987 at Comfort when 10 teenagers drowned during evacuations from a church camp, flooding in October 1998 that killed 31, flooding in May 2015 on the nearby Blanco River that killed 13, and flooding on June 12, just three weeks before this flood, in nearby San Antonio that killed 13. Texas has led the U.S. in flood deaths over the past several decades; from 1959 to 2019, 1,069 people died in flooding statewide during that 60-year period (Louisiana was second highest, with 693).
Camp Mystic
Camp Mystic, along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, had at least eight buildings, including multiple cabins, that were within a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated floodway, the portion of the floodplain adjacent to the stream channel most susceptible to swift moving flood waters. In 2011 FEMA placed the camp in a "special flood hazard area", requiring flood insurance and stricter regulation on any future construction projects. The designation indicated the area would likely be inundated by a 100-year flood. Between 2011 and 2020, FEMA redrew the 100-year flood map several times following various appeals from the camp, removing 55 buildings from the official flood hazard area, as the camp continued to operate and expanded in and around the potentially dangerous flood plain.
Preparations
On July 2, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) "activated state emergency response resources in anticipation of increased threats of flooding in parts of West and Central Texas heading into the holiday weekend," stating that the National Weather Service (NWS) anticipated heavy rainfall beginning that evening, with the potential to cause flash flooding across West Texas and the Hill Country, lasting a few days. TDEM listed state resources available to support local flood response operations.
At 1:18 pm CDT on July 3, 2025, the NWS issued a Flood Watch for Kerr County and other areas that would later be impacted by severe flooding. The watch warned of 1–3 in (25–76 mm) of rain, with isolated areas seeing closer to 5–7 in (130–180 mm). The watch noted that there would be "rounds of scattered to widespread showers and storms with heavy rain rates possible."
On July 3 at 6:10 pm CDT, the Weather Prediction Center issued a Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion citing that "areas of flash flooding will be likely across central TX overnight with very heavy rainfall expected. Hourly rainfall in excess of 2 to 3 inches (51–76 mm) seems reasonable given the environment and localized 6-hr totals over 6 inches (150 mm) will be possible", and detailing that the potential flooding may have "significant impacts". Another discussion issued at 6:27 am on July 4 used stronger wording, warning that "Considerable to catastrophic flash flood impacts can continue to be expected."
Numerous flash flood warnings were issued throughout the event. Several of these warnings contained dire flash flood emergency wording. The first flash flood warning was issued at 11:41 pm CDT on July 3, and was for Bandera County. At 1:14 am CDT on July 4, the first flash flood warning with a "considerable" tag was issued for parts of Bandera and Kerr counties; this tag automatically triggers cell phone Wireless Emergency Alerts. A flash flood emergency was issued at 4:03 am CDT on July 4, urging residents of Hunt and Ingram, in Kerr County, to "seek higher ground now!" and that rainfall rates of 2–4 in (50–100 mm) per hour would continue to impact the area which had already seen 4–10 in (100–250 mm) of rain.
Further down the Guadalupe River, a flash flood emergency was issued by the National Weather Service for Kerrville and Center Point at 5:34 am CDT, again warning of the potential for "catastrophic" flood damage, and noting that "automated rain gauges indicate a large and deadly flood wave is moving down the Guadalupe River. Flash flooding is already occurring". Another flash flood emergency was issued for Comfort two hours later at 10:45. The area was placed under a flash flood emergency at 7:24 am, warning that "automated rain gauges indicate a large and deadly flood wave is moving down the Guadalupe River" over an hour before the water level began to surge. In total, the NWS issued 22 alerts of escalating severity for the area in and around Kerr County over the course of July 3 and 4, according to CBS News. There were also several other weather service messages issued for Western and Central Texas on July 2 and 3, concerning the risk of flooding. No alerts were issued, however, by local government officials in Kerr or Bandera Counties, who were reliant on NWS alerts.
On July 7, another "moderate" risk for excessive rainfall was outlined by the Weather Prediction Center; A flash flood watch was issued for much of central Texas at 11:46 pm CDT on July 6, warning of 2–4 in (51–102 mm) of rain with some areas possibly seeing as much as 10 in (250 mm) through 7 pm on July 7.
After a lull in flood activity, a new flash flood emergency was issued on July 13, for the Colorado Bend State Park, noting that "Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area". Numerous Flash Flood Warnings were also issued.
Effects
In the early morning of July 4, 6.5 in (170 mm) of rain fell in just three hours, resulting in numerous water-related rescues. In Hunt, where the two branches of the Guadalupe River meet, the river gauge recorded a 26 ft (7.9 m) rise just 45 minutes before failing when it reached 29 ft (8.8 m); it ultimately crested at 37.52 ft (11.44 m). By 4:05 am, the Guadalupe River at Hunt had risen to 21.99 ft (6.70 m), rising over ten ft (3.0 m) in an hour and reaching major flood stage. The river continued to surge, reaching 37.52 ft (11.44 m) and still rising at 5:10 am when the gauge at Hunt stopped updating. This level marked the highest ever recorded at Hunt, surpassing flash flooding that occurred in 1987 by almost 12 in (300 mm).
Downstream, the river surge measured 21 ft (6.4 m) in one hour at Kerrville, and nearly 27 ft (8.2 m) in 45 minutes at Comfort. The river's rise was so swift, that people did not have time to react. The city of Kerrville issued a disaster declaration on July 4 following the floods. In total, 5–11 in (130–280 mm) of rain fell on some areas that experienced significant flood effects. San Angelo, in Tom Green County, recorded 15 in (381 mm) of rainfall on July 4. There, flooding of the Concho River compromised the city's wastewater system, causing two discharges—1.6 million US gal (6.1 million L) and 67,000 US gal (250,000 L)—into the river.
Local officials there estimated that over 12,100 structures were affected by the flooding. Flooding continued into July 5 with two more flash flood emergencies 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". About 20.33 in (516 mm) of rain fell northwest of Streeter near Mason. Early on July 13, torrential rain caused the Lampasas River to quickly rise over 30 ft (9 m) in 5 hours. A crest of 32.45 ft (9.89 m) (just under major flood stage) was recorded that morning near Kempner.
Search and rescue
Search and rescue operations commenced on July 4, resulting in at least 237 people being rescued from floodwaters by the end of the day, including 167 people rescued from trees and roofs via helicopter. Telecommunication outages in the area made it hard to contact many people in the region, and the amount of debris and destruction complicated the work of first responders. On July 8, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said that more than 440 people had been rescued, and least 120 bodies had been recovered, while authorities had searched 26 mi (42 km) of river. Over 2,000 volunteers helped out in the emergency operations in Kerr County alone. According to officials, the last "live rescue" was made on July 4. Multiple groups from at least 12 other U.S. states and agencies, as well as from Mexico, joined the search and rescue. Firefighters and first responders from Acuña, Coahuila, deployed on July 9 to assist in the operations along the Guadalupe River. California governor Gavin Newsom sent urban search and rescue team members to the Texas floods.
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 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 14 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.