Rescue operations have resumed in parts of central Texas following devastating floods that hit Kerr County and surrounding areas earlier this month, leaving at least 132 people dead and more than 160 still missing.
The catastrophic July 4th flooding, described as worse than a 100-year event, caused widespread destruction as fast-rising waters surged over 26 feet overnight, sweeping away homes and vehicles. Kerr County alone accounts for the majority of those unaccounted for.
Search and recovery efforts were paused on Sunday due to renewed storms and concerns about flash flooding. Officials with the Ingram Fire Department ordered crews to evacuate the Guadalupe River corridor amid high-risk conditions, issuing emergency alerts and door-to-door warnings.
“It was the first time we’ve had to pause because of weather,” said Levi Bizzell, spokesperson for the Ingram Fire Department. “But everybody here wants to be out there. They show up exhausted but determined to bring families closure.”
By Sunday afternoon, some search teams in Kerr County resumed operations, while others awaited safer terrain conditions to continue efforts on Monday.
The National Weather Service extended a flood watch across the Texas Hill Country through Monday evening, forecasting up to five inches of additional rainfall. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed emergency rescues were carried out in San Saba, Lampasas, and Schleicher counties. About 100 homes were damaged, along with extensive rural infrastructure such as cattle fencing, according to Ashley Johnson of the Hill Country Community Action Association.
“Anything you can imagine in a rural community was damaged,” Johnson said. “Our blessing is it was daylight and we knew it was coming.”
Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents near the San Saba River, with shelters opened at the San Saba Civic Center. Elsewhere in the state, a driver was rescued from waist-deep water in McGregor, and flood alerts forced evacuations in low-lying areas of Sonora, 110 miles northwest of Kerrville.
In Kerrville, residents continued clearing debris in persistent rain. On Guadalupe Street, Matthew Stone was seen unclogging a storm drain outside his flooded home. “The cops have been coming back and forth, we’re getting lots of alerts, we’re getting a lot of support,” he said.
Among the hardest-hit locations was Camp Mystic, a historic girls’ summer camp on a low bend of the Guadalupe River. At least 27 campers and staff are feared dead after the site was engulfed by floodwaters.
Helicopters, drones, and boats have all been deployed in the search operations. Officials say the flooding was so sudden and forceful that many residents had no time to react. The lack of a comprehensive early warning system has drawn criticism and intensified calls for reform.
Governor Abbott and local authorities are now facing pressure to reevaluate the region’s flood preparedness and response measures. Meanwhile, rescue teams continue racing against time and weather to provide answers to grieving families.
