At Least Two People Have Died and Hundreds Have Been Rescued as Catastrophic Flooding Again Sweeps Through Communities Still Recovering From Last Year’s Tragedy
Barely a year after catastrophic floods devastated the Texas Hill Country and killed 136 people, residents are once again watching rivers swallow roads, homes and businesses.
At least two people have died in Kerr and Uvalde counties, while emergency crews have completed more than 200 rescues across the region after days of relentless rainfall triggered widespread flash flooding.
One victim was swept away inside a mobile home in Kerr County. Another died after floodwaters overtook a vehicle near Uvalde, authorities said.
The latest disaster comes just over a year after the July 4, 2025, floods killed 136 people statewide, including 25 girls and two teenage counselors connected to Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River.
Guadalupe River Rises Within Hours
The flooding unfolded with frightening speed Thursday as the Guadalupe River surged more than 30 feet in some locations.
Near Comfort, the river rose roughly 22 feet in less than an hour, while other gauges recorded water climbing above two-story-building heights. In some areas, the Guadalupe surpassed levels recorded during last year’s flooding.
The National Weather Service warned residents of an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation, urging those near rising waterways to immediately move to higher ground.
Gov. Greg Abbott said more than 2,000 first responders were deployed across the state with helicopters, boats, drones and other rescue equipment.
“Saving lives is the No. 1 priority,” Abbott said as crews continued searching flooded neighborhoods and vehicles.
Summer camps across Kerr County reported that campers and employees were safe. Many moved activities indoors, sheltered on higher ground or activated emergency plans as nearby roads became impassable.
Camp Mystic did not reopen for the 2026 summer season following opposition from victims’ families, lawmakers and state officials.
Related: More than 100 Dead, Many Still Missing After Guadalupe River Floods Over July 4th Weekend
Uvalde Cut Off by Rising Water
Uvalde was among the communities hit hardest after the normally dry Leona River spilled over its banks and cut off roads into the city.
“There’s no way into the city at this point,” Uvalde police spokesperson Juli Alvarado said as officers used rescue boats to reach people trapped in vehicles and homes.
Some areas near Uvalde received as much as 28 inches of rain over several days, while flooding affected highways, bridges and dozens of roadways throughout the Hill Country.
Residents were repeatedly warned not to drive through high water. State transportation officials reported more than 100 affected road segments and dozens of closures across Texas.
New Warnings Help Residents Evacuate
For residents who survived last year’s disaster, the similarities were difficult to ignore.
“It’s crazy happening two times in one year,” Kerrville resident Josiah Rodriguez said after waking to heavy rain around 2 a.m.
Rodriguez said last year’s flooding “just kind of happened overnight and took everyone by surprise.” This time, however, residents received more warnings and saw emergency preparations begin earlier.
The contrast comes after the 2025 disaster exposed major failures in warning systems and emergency communications. Many residents near the Guadalupe River reported receiving little or no notice before floodwaters reached their homes.
New sirens, alerts and evacuation procedures have since been introduced in parts of the region, although officials continue to face questions about whether enough has been done.
Businesses Face Another Setback
The flooding also brought another financial blow to communities still struggling to rebuild.
Ingram Mayor Claud Jordan said some businesses damaged during last year’s floods had not yet reopened before the latest round of rain arrived.
“This doesn’t help,” Jordan said.
Floodwaters also damaged bridges, homes, roads and wildlife facilities across the region. A portion of the Arcadia Loop Bridge near Kerrville was washed away, leaving a roughly 50-foot gap in the structure.
Forecasters said the storm system produced widespread rainfall across a larger area than last year’s flood, extending the threat beyond the Guadalupe River watershed to waterways including the Frio, Nueces, Medina and Pedernales rivers.
Officials urged residents to continue monitoring emergency alerts, avoid flooded roads and remain prepared to evacuate as additional storms could cause waterways to rise again.
