Sirens, Cellphone Alerts and Stronger Emergency Preparation Helped Save Lives as Another Round of Catastrophic Flooding Struck Central and South Texas
One year after catastrophic flooding killed 136 people in the Texas Hill Country, another round of punishing storms has tested the warning systems and emergency procedures created in response to that disaster.
Days of heavy rain sent rivers over their banks, flooded homes and highways and forced hundreds of rescues across Central and South Texas. At least two people were killed, but officials and residents said stronger preparation, new warning tools and a more aggressive response prevented the death toll from approaching last year’s devastation.
New flood sirens sounded in some of the hardest-hit communities. Cellphones buzzed with alerts from local governments and the National Weather Service. Rescue crews equipped with new boats, vehicles and specialized gear were already preparing before rivers began rising.
“Everybody in Texas has been far more prepared to deal with what has happened this year,” Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference in Uvalde. “Lives have been saved.”
San Antonio Storms Bring Tornado Damage and Historic Rainfall
San Antonio was also caught in the same stretch of extreme weather, with days of relentless rain contributing to dangerous flooding conditions across the region.
From July 12 through July 17, the city experienced a historic, multi-day flood event that dumped more rain on San Antonio than it had received during the rest of 2026 combined. Downtown San Antonio recorded more than 9 inches of rain during the storm system. On Thursday, July 16, the city received 6.12 inches, its highest single-day rainfall total in more than 12 years.
Rainfall totals were even higher in parts of suburban Bexar County. Timberwood Park measured 12.12 inches, while Fair Oaks Ranch received 10.50 inches. Farther west, portions of Uvalde and Kendall counties recorded between 13 and more than 20 inches of rain.
Related: San Antonio Tornado Tears Through The Rim
Early Wednesday morning, an EF1 tornado touched down on the Northwest Side, marking the city’s first confirmed tornado since October 2023. The storm produced estimated peak winds of 100 mph and traveled along a roughly four-mile path from the UTSA area toward The Rim.
The tornado damaged two apartment complexes and several businesses within the Northwest Side shopping district. Part of the roof was torn from a four-story building at the Oasis San Antonio apartments, while debris and broken materials were scattered across the property.
Heavy winds and flying debris also struck businesses along Interstate 10. The Santikos Palladium theater sustained damage to its entrance facade and roof, while storefronts at Marshalls, Bass Pro Shops and other businesses were also affected.
The rainfall also brought a significant boost to regional water supplies. The Edwards Aquifer rose by more than seven feet, while Canyon Lake climbed to approximately 98% capacity. The lake remained closed to recreational activity because of heavy debris runoff.
Hundreds Rescued as Floodwaters Spread Across Texas
Emergency crews rescued more than 570 people across southern and central Texas, including residents trapped inside homes, vehicles, recreational vehicles and apartment complexes.
Some communities received more than 2 feet of rain during the week. Nearly 1 trillion gallons of water fell over three of the hardest-hit counties within three days — enough to fill approximately 1.5 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.
In Uvalde County, a portion of a bridge over the Nueces River collapsed after months’ worth of rain fell within days. Floodwaters also overran parts of Uvalde, temporarily cutting off several routes into the city.
Approximately 6 million Texans were under a flood watch at various points during the week. High water also closed a 50-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 57 and temporarily shut down two international bridges at Eagle Pass.
Rising water on the Rio Grande broke loose hundreds of large buoys placed along the border to deter unauthorized crossings. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said approximately 480 of the roughly 600 untethered buoys had been recovered by midday Friday.
Two People Killed During the Flooding
One person died after being swept away while driving on a flooded roadway near Uvalde.
A second victim, identified as 65-year-old John Mark Steward of Kerrville, died after his mobile home was swept into Goat Creek near the Guadalupe River, according to his wife.
The flooding again damaged communities along the Guadalupe River that were still recovering from the July 2025 disaster. Last year’s flood killed 136 people, including 28 children and counselors at Camp Mystic and more than 30 people staying at RV parks.
Summer campers in the affected area were reported safe during this year’s flooding.
Better Tools Bring a Better Response
Although the latest flooding was widespread and catastrophic, the storms developed differently from the sudden overnight downpour that struck the Guadalupe River’s headwaters in 2025.
Last year, between 7 and 12 inches of rain fell over roughly three hours in a concentrated area. The Guadalupe River rose 29 feet within three hours near Hunt, creating a fast-moving wall of water while many residents and emergency officials were asleep.
This year, repeated rounds of rain fell across several days and multiple river basins, including the Guadalupe, Nueces and Pedernales rivers and Cibolo Creek. Periods of lighter weather between storms allowed forecasters to track river levels and gave emergency managers additional time to close bridges, evacuate residents and position rescue crews.
“The Guadalupe River last year, it all came down at once,” National Weather Service hydrologist Greg Waller said. “This one almost looks like a football game. There’s the first quarter, then there’s the second quarter. … It’s spread out.”
Kerr County issued four wireless emergency alerts as the flood threat increased, while the city of Kerrville issued another. The warnings told residents near Quinlan Creek to move to higher ground and described the flooding as extremely dangerous.
Those notifications were sent alongside National Weather Service watches, warnings and flash flood emergencies delivered through mobile phones, weather radios and broadcast outlets. Residents enrolled in Kerr County’s CodeRED notification system also received text messages.
“Last year, we got no alarms. We had no idea what was going on,” Kerrville resident Suzanne Sutphin Gschwind said. “This year, very different.”
New Sirens Sounded Along the Guadalupe River
Following the 2025 disaster, Texas lawmakers approved stronger safety requirements for youth camps and funding for flood warning sirens in areas with a history of dangerous flash flooding.
The Upper Guadalupe River Authority has since installed six sirens in Kerr County. Three — two along the South Fork and one near Hunt — were activated during this week’s flooding. The remaining sirens served areas that experienced only minor flooding.
Additional sirens installed in Ingram and Kendall County were also activated. Twenty-eight other counties are eligible to seek state funding for warning systems.
“Between the outdoor sirens and the cellphone alerts, the response was very positive in getting people out of the way and to higher ground,” state Sen. Paul Bettencourt said. “It’s an enormous improvement over a year ago.”
Kerrville officials also monitored a new Upper Guadalupe River Authority dashboard that combines rainfall totals, river levels, stream flow and weather information.
Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring said the data allowed officials to coordinate evacuations, close bridges and place barricades before conditions worsened.
“That saved lives yesterday, without a doubt,” Herring said. “The difference [from 2025] is we did not have a warning system in place that could tell us the magnitude of the problem heading our way.”
Warning Gaps Remain in Rural Communities
The improvements did not reach everyone.
An Associated Press review found no listed wireless emergency alerts from local agencies in Uvalde County, although authorities may have used other methods to reach residents. Between early Tuesday and approximately 9 a.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service issued 38 alerts for portions of southwest Texas, including 14 tornado warnings and 24 flood warnings.
However, Weather Service messages do not always contain the highly localized evacuation instructions that county and municipal agencies can provide.
Jaclyn Gonzales said a friend called at 2 a.m. to warn her that a tornado might be approaching her Uvalde-area home. When she got out of bed, she discovered water already covering the floor.
“It was the shock of the water to my feet that made me really wake up,” Gonzales said.
In Batesville, Kat Sprawls said she learned that floodwaters were approaching only after a friend repeatedly called her at 3:30 a.m. Her phone had been set to do-not-disturb mode.
“There’s no warning system at all,” Sprawls said. “Over half of Batesville is under water now.”
Zavala County officials said deputies went door-to-door while the sheriff’s department posted evacuation information on Facebook.
Private Companies Add Flood Sensors and Sirens
Private companies are also attempting to close gaps in Texas’ flood-warning network.
River Sentry, founded after the 2025 disaster, has installed 104 water-activated sirens at privately owned RV parks, camps and hotels along the Guadalupe River.
Other companies are expanding real-time water monitoring. Hononu has received a state contract that will allow agencies to purchase its water-level sensor technology more easily, while the Watch Duty emergency-tracking application expanded into flood monitoring earlier this year.
Experts cautioned that no warning system can eliminate the danger posed by rapidly rising water, particularly across the rural and rugged region known as Flash Flood Alley.
