Central Texas | July 9, 2025 : Four days after catastrophic flash floods battered Central Texas, the death toll has reached 109, with more than 160 people still missing, according to state officials. The floods, caused by sudden heavy rainfall over the Fourth of July weekend, dealt the hardest blow to Kerr County, where fast-rising waters from the Guadalupe River swept away homes, vehicles, and even a summer camp.

Rescue operations have transitioned to recovery, as hopes of finding survivors diminish. Local authorities report that over 87 bodies have been retrieved from Kerr County alone. The dead include at least 30 children, among them campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp, where floodwaters overwhelmed cabins in the early hours of the disaster. Scattered reports noted that five campers and one counselor remained unaccounted for.

Residents described the storm as a wall of water within minutes, more than a foot of rain fell overnight, causing the river to rise 26 feet in about 45 minutes. The heavy runoff completely submerged multiple roads and swept vehicles off the landscape.

The scale of destruction has prompted a coordinated response. Rescue teams from across the U.S. and Mexico, including the Coast Guard, have joined efforts. Over 1,000 rescues have been reported, though the latest live rescues occurred soon after the floods began. Search teams now include helicopters, drones, boats, trained cadaver dogs, and volunteers combing a 30-mile stretch of the river and surrounding debris fields. The conditions have been harrowing, with crews battling heat, shifting debris, and the emotional toll of recovery.

Governor Greg Abbott has pledged continued efforts until every missing person is accounted for. He has called a special legislative session starting July 21 to review flood warning systems and emergency preparedness. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced plans to install warning sirens in flood-prone areas before next summer.

Critical voices have raised concerns over the lack of local alert systems and delayed warnings. The National Weather Service is under scrutiny for possible staffing shortages, which could have hindered timely information. Critics argue that improved warning systems and investments in infrastructure may have reduced loss of life.

In the wake of the disaster, FEMA and state agencies are processing over 1,000 aid requests, and officials estimate the initial economic impact to be between $18–22 billion. Community support has surged, with widespread volunteer cleanup efforts, especially at sites like the Guadalupe Keys RV Resort and Camp Mystic.

The disaster stands as the deadliest freshwater flood in the region in over a century. Climatologists point to the increasing frequency of sudden, intense rain events influenced by climate change, warning such flash floods may become more common in the future.

As Texas mourns and begins the long process of cleanup and recovery, questions are mounting about preparedness, systemic shortfalls in flood warning infrastructure, and what steps can be taken to prevent future calamities of this magnitude.