What happeneduy

What happened

July 4–5, 2025: Torrential rains—up to 18 inches in 24 hours—descended on the Texas Hill Country. The Guadalupe River surged 26–29 feet within about 45 minutes, fueled by stalled thunderstorms and the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry axios.com+15local10.com+15mrt.com+15axios.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8houstonchronicle.com+8.
The region’s rocky soil and steep, narrow valleys prevented absorption, turning the landscape into flash-flood “funnels” .

Kerr County: Deaths have climbed to 59, including 21 children thetimes.co.uk+15axios.com+15businessinsider.com+15.
Surrounding counties (Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green) account for 7–11 additional fatalities, bringing the total to 69–70+ dead timesunion.com+13axios.com+13en.wikipedia.org+13.
Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp along the Guadalupe: approximately 16 girls confirmed dead, 11 still missing, plus several counselors washingtonpost.com+15mysanantonio.com+15expressnews.com+15.

Rescuers deployed helicopters, boats, drones, and more than 800 personnel nationwide. Over 850 people have been rescued en.wikipedia.org+2apnews.com+2dw.com+2.
In a particularly harrowing case, a camping couple clung to trees after their RV was swept away. The wife, Tina Perry, was rescued injured; her husband Brad is still missing people.com.
Camp director Jane Ragsdale of Heart O’ the Hills also perished, eliciting an outpouring of grief from past campers and the broader community houstonchronicle.com+1businessinsider.com+1.

A flash flood emergency was issued around 4 a.m. on July 4, urging people to seek high ground, but many heard nothing more until the waters were already raging recordpatriot.com+10mysanantonio.com+10ksat.com+10.
Survivors described a “pitch-black wall of death.” Officials acknowledged no one anticipated such a “100-year flood” en.wikipedia.org+10mysanantonio.com+10ctpost.com+10.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem conceded that the existing alert systems were outdated and underfunded mrt.com+7axios.com+7dw.com+7.

Federal disaster declaration issued for Kerr County, triggering FEMA aid; Governor Abbott called for a day of prayer and continued support es.wikipedia.org+7apnews.com+7people.com+7.
The Texas Rangers are collecting DNA from remains to identify victims people.com+4axios.com+4mrt.com+4.
Authorities face growing scrutiny over emergency preparedness and warning systems; questioning continues over why camps and riverside homes lacked timely evacuation notices dw.com+13mysanantonio.com+13ksat.com+13.
With rain still forecast, ongoing flash-flood watches threaten recovery efforts washingtonpost.com.

Hollow geology – Thin soils on limestone/granite forced rapid runoff
Steep valley channels – Like garden-hose nozzles, they increased flow speed houstonchronicle.com
Record precipitation – Over 1 trillion gallons fell, triggering water rises unseen since 1987 houstonchronicle.com

Search continues for missing individuals, especially from Camp Mystic; meanwhile, recovery has increasingly taken over from immediate rescue operations.
Investigation into emergency alert failures and climate-related vulnerabilities is underway, and federal funds are being mobilized to upgrade systems and support rebuilding.