Flash Floods Devastate Texas Hill Country: 24 Dead, Dozens Missing as Rescue Efforts Continue

KERRVILLE, TEXAS — Catastrophic flash floods swept through Texas Hill Country on Friday following torrential downpours, claiming at least 24 lives and leaving dozens unaccounted for, according to local officials. The deluge, fueled by relentless rainfall along the Guadalupe River, caught many by surprise, overwhelming communities with little to no warning.

Among the missing are 23 to 25 individuals associated with Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls located along the riverbank. Authorities continue to search for them amid widespread devastation.

At a late-evening press briefing, nearly 18 hours after the July Fourth holiday turned tragic, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that search-and-rescue operations would continue through the night and into the weekend. "There will be no limits to the resources we deploy," Abbott emphasized.

President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, assured federal support, stating, "We’ll take care of them," in reference to disaster aid for the affected regions.

The U.S. National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency for parts of Kerr County, approximately 65 miles northwest of San Antonio, after the region received up to a foot of rainfall in a matter of hours. The city of Kerrville, the county seat, bore the brunt of the flooding.

"This event unfolded in less than two hours and could not have been predicted, even with radar," said Dalton Rice, Kerrville’s city manager. The speed and volume of water prevented any advance evacuation orders, leaving many stranded.

State emergency management agencies had issued general flood advisories ahead of the holiday weekend. However, W. Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, confirmed that actual rainfall levels far exceeded forecasts.

Floodwaters also forced the cancellation of Independence Day celebrations across the region, including in Kerrville, where the designated waterfront event site was submerged.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that the death toll had risen to 24 as of Friday night, an increase from earlier reports. One additional death in neighboring Kendall County was under investigation to determine whether it was flood-related.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick stated that 23 girls from Camp Mystic were still unaccounted for among more than 750 children attending various summer programs in the area. “We are praying that all those missing are found alive,” he said.

All other campers had been safely evacuated by Friday evening. “Everyone is doing everything in their power to get these kids out,” said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, noting significant damage to residential subdivisions, RV parks, and campgrounds along the river.

Pressed on whether authorities should have done more in advance, Kelly defended the response. “We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States,” he said. “We had no reason to believe this was going to be anything like what’s happened here. None whatsoever.”

By Friday night, emergency crews had rescued or evacuated at least 237 individuals, including 167 airlifted by helicopter. The Guadalupe River reportedly surged by 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes, intensifying the crisis.

With further rainfall anticipated, officials warned that the flash flood threat would persist across central Texas — particularly from San Antonio to Waco — for the next 24 to 48 hours.

Governor Abbott signed a disaster declaration Friday night to expedite emergency assistance to Kerr County and surrounding areas. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA, have been deployed to support ongoing relief efforts.