Catastrophic Flooding Traps Residents Across Kerr County as Emergency Rescues Continue and Shelters Open
Kerrville, Texas, July 16, 2026
A terrifying flood emergency is consuming the Texas Hill Country this morning as communities in Kerrville, Ingram and Center Point find themselves at the mercy of catastrophic floodwaters that have isolated neighborhoods, overwhelmed roads and sent emergency crews scrambling to reach people in distress. Authorities are urging residents to stay where they are as the crisis deepens and rescues multiply by the hour.
,Catastrophic flooding was reported in the early morning hours in Kerrville and other parts of Kerr County as a flash flood emergency was declared amid heavy rain and ongoing water rescues., The situation deteriorated with alarming speed, leaving thousands of residents facing a life-threatening scenario with limited options for escape.
,Emergency managers reported that 3 to 6 inches of rain had already fallen across central Kerr County, with rainfall continuing at rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour,, creating conditions that outpaced even the most urgent evacuation efforts. The sheer volume of water falling in such a short window left rivers, creeks and roadways overwhelmed before first responders could position themselves effectively.
A River Rising with Terrifying Speed
At the center of this catastrophe is the Guadalupe River, which has transformed almost overnight from a familiar landmark into a deadly threat. ,The Guadalupe River rose 16 feet in just 30 minutes,, a staggering rate of rise that left little time for residents living along its banks to react. ,At Hunt, the river was measured at 19.4 feet around 3:20 a.m. and is forecast to crest near 22 feet early Thursday morning, a level comparable to significant flooding experienced in 1981.,
,The National Weather Service warned that the flooding poses an immediate threat to life and upgraded forecasts for the Guadalupe River at Hunt and Kerrville to major flooding as water rapidly rose along creeks, low-water crossings, roads and the river itself.,
,The National Weather Service office in Austin and San Antonio said in a 3:30 a.m. radar update that a flash flood emergency had been issued for parts of Kerr County, including Kerrville, Hunt and Ingram., That warning was later expanded. ,The National Weather Service first issued a flash flood emergency for Kerrville, Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville-Schreiner Park and Waltonia before later issuing a separate flash flood emergency for Uvalde, Uvalde Estates and Knippa.,
,The flash flood emergency for Kerr County is in effect until 9 a.m. Thursday, while the flash flood emergency for Uvalde County is in effect until 10 a.m. Thursday.,
Rescue Crews Stretched to Their Limits
The scope of calls for help overwhelmed emergency services almost immediately. ,At least six major water rescue calls had been reported by about 2:30 a.m. One involved a mother and child trapped near Indian Creek Road in Ingram, but firefighters were unable to reach them because floodwaters had cut off access.,
,Fire departments from Ingram and Kerrville, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety, sheriff’s deputies and other emergency agencies, called in additional personnel as rescue requests mounted., The surge in calls underscored just how rapidly conditions on the ground were changing and how unprepared the infrastructure was to handle the volume of water descending on the region.
,Flooding made the road between Kerrville and Hunt impassable, preventing emergency crews from reaching some stranded residents., That gap between where help was needed and where rescue teams could physically travel became one of the most dangerous factors of the morning. ,One source reported that runoff flooding had caused the Guadalupe River to rise rapidly, sending water directly into homes.,
,Heavy rainfall on Thursday morning caused dangerous flooding in the Hunt area, prompting rescues, evacuations and leaving some residents stranded as rising water cut off road access.,
Roads Closed, Travel Dangerous Across the County
For those not yet directly threatened by rising water inside their homes, the roads provided no safe alternative. ,The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said Texas Highway 39 between Ingram and Highway 83 was closed by TxDOT because of high water., ,Officials also reported street flooding in Ingram and warned that many roads throughout Kerr County may be underwater.,
,The flooding forced multiple road closures across the county,, effectively fragmenting communities and severing the connections that emergency responders depend on to reach people in crisis. With highways closed and low-water crossings submerged, some areas became isolated islands in the predawn darkness.
,As conditions deteriorated, the Buckhorn Lake Resort on Goat Creek Road near Interstate 10 and the Ingram RV Park began evacuating guests,, adding to the number of people displaced during the overnight crisis.
Shelter in Place and Emergency Shelter Established
Facing an impossible dilemma, officials were forced to issue competing guidance that reflected just how chaotic conditions had become on the ground. ,Some residents were told to shelter in place because floodwaters had made it impossible to reach higher ground,, while others who still had an accessible escape route were urged to take it immediately.
,Flash flooding continued to worsen across Kerr County, prompting the city of Kerrville to issue a shelter-in-place advisory Thursday morning as heavy rain overwhelmed roads and low-lying areas, with city officials urging residents to move to the highest safe level of their home or building and avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary.,
,Officials reminded residents to never drive through flooded roads, echoing the well-known warning to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” and urged the public to call 911 only for life-threatening emergencies while continuing to monitor official weather alerts.,
,A shelter and reunification center was established at Calvary Temple Church, located at 3000 Loop 534 in Kerrville,, giving displaced residents and those separated from family members a designated place to seek safety and reconnect with loved ones.
,Officials issued an urgent warning for residents living along the Guadalupe River, particularly downstream toward Comfort, urging them to seek higher ground immediately.,
Context: A Region Still Healing
This latest crisis strikes a region that has barely had time to recover. ,The flooding came as another round of heavy rain moved across the Hill Country, with saturated ground and swollen rivers already increasing the risk of rapid runoff., The already softened and waterlogged soil left behind from previous storms made this new round of rainfall exponentially more dangerous, allowing water to move faster and accumulate more quickly than it would under drier conditions.
,Emergency managers warned people not to wait until floodwaters reached their homes before evacuating and advised everyone to stay away from flooded roads, low-water crossings and river access points., These reminders carry particular weight in a county that knows firsthand what happens when the Guadalupe runs wild.
What Residents Should Do Right Now
Authorities are asking all residents in and around Kerrville, Ingram, Center Point and the surrounding communities to take the following steps immediately: move to the highest level of your structure if floodwaters are approaching; do not attempt to cross flooded roads or low-water crossings under any circumstances; call 911 only if you are facing an immediate, life-threatening emergency; and continue monitoring updates from the National Weather Service and local Kerr County officials through official channels.
The situation remains active and rapidly evolving. Dallas Headlines will continue to monitor this developing emergency and provide updates as conditions change and more information becomes available from local authorities and first responders on the ground.