Texas Flash Floods Strike Again, Killing at Least One and Trapping Dozens Across a Region Still Healing From Last Year’s Tragedy
A fresh wave of catastrophic flooding has slammed the Texas Hill Country, killing at least one person and forcing emergency crews to launch desperate rescue operations across communities that are still rebuilding from the deadly disaster that struck nearly exactly one year ago. The new deluge, arriving just as the state continues to mourn the more than 100 lives lost in the July 4, 2025 floods, is reigniting fears and trauma for thousands of Texans who have seen this horror before.
Governor Greg Abbott confirmed Thursday that at least one fatality has already been recorded. ,Abbott said there has been “one loss of life” due to the floods, but did not specify where or when the death occurred., With waters still rising in multiple areas and rescue teams stretched across several counties, officials warned that the death toll could grow.
“Our number one focus is saving lives,” the governor said, even as he provided some measure of relief by noting that many of the summer camps devastated last year did not appear to be in immediate danger this time around.
A Region Under Siege — Again
,Rescuers saved dozens of stranded drivers and people trapped in homes from catastrophic flooding in Texas while many more fled to higher ground Thursday across a region still recovering from devastating floods just a year ago.,
,Floodwaters overran the city of Uvalde overnight, cutting off outside access, and the Leona River, normally dry for most of the year, filled streets with water., The sudden inundation left entire neighborhoods inaccessible and stranded families inside their own homes.
,Uvalde officials sent out rescue boats and found multiple people trapped in vehicles overnight, according to Juli Alvarado, a spokesperson for Uvalde police., “There’s no way into the city at this point,” Alvarado said, underscoring the severity of the situation on the ground.
Local residents described scenes of chaos and helplessness as the waters rose with little time to react. ,Carmen Rodriguez, who was nervously watching water engulf her neighborhood Thursday morning as a helicopter roared overhead, said people really could not get anywhere, adding that while her family had a place to go, all the streets were closed, with phones buzzing with warnings throughout the night about the incoming flash floods.,
,By Wednesday, Uvalde police had already ordered some mandatory evacuations, with first responders notifying people directly.,
A Deadly Flood Wave Moving Downstream
,After days of pounding rain, the National Weather Service in San Antonio warned that a “large and deadly flood wave” was barreling down the same river wrecked by flash floods last summer, when two dozen children and counselors were killed at Camp Mystic.,
,Forecasters urgently warned residents to move to higher ground immediately as rivers rose hour by hour, turning into fast-moving seas of white water, with several tornado warnings also issued across the region.,
,A Flash Flood Emergency was declared along the Guadalupe River in Kerr and Kendall counties in the Texas Hill Country as the dangerous flood wave moved downstream Thursday, prompting urgent warnings for residents to seek higher ground immediately.,
,Officials warned of life-threatening flooding impacting low-water crossings, streams, creeks, roads, highways, underpasses and urban areas, and urged residents not to attempt travel unless evacuating from a flood-prone area or under an evacuation order.,
,Communities expected to experience flash flooding include Kerrville, Comfort, Waring, Sisterdale, Center Point and Crown.,
Unprecedented Rainfall in Just Hours
The scale of the rainfall has shocked even seasoned meteorologists. ,The National Weather Service reported that 10 to 20 inches of rain had fallen across the region in just the past two days, with 8 inches falling in as little as two hours early Thursday morning.,
,The deluge dumped nearly a foot of rain in some counties, and the governor issued disaster declarations for dozens of counties as roughly six million residents across 57 counties were placed under a National Weather Service flood watch as of late Wednesday.,
,Forecasters with the National Weather Service warned that the flood wave is expected to reach levels similar to the catastrophic July 4, 2025 Guadalupe River flood in some areas, and that flash flooding is already occurring across the region.,
,Flood markers showed the new flooding already matched the level recorded during last July’s catastrophic event.,
Why This Region Is So Vulnerable
,The Texas Hill Country is especially prone to flash floods because the area’s signature limestone terrain is covered by just a thin layer of soil, allowing water to quickly shoot downhill and rapidly fill the narrow river basins during heavy rains.,
,Central Texas, specifically the Hill Country region, is prone to major floods, and due to the heightened risk for flash flooding, the area is commonly referred to as Flash Flood Alley.,
That vulnerability was on full, devastating display just a year ago. ,The Texas Hill Country floods over the July Fourth holiday last year killed more than 100 people., ,Flash floods in Texas killed more than 130 people over that Fourth of July holiday weekend, including girls attending a summer camp, with Camp Mystic confirming at least 27 campers and counselors had died in the flooding.,
“Too Familiar and Too Soon”
For those who lived through last year’s nightmare, Thursday’s rising waters brought back memories that had never truly faded. One resident captured the collective anguish with just a few words: ,”Too familiar for sure, and too soon.”,
,Josiah Rodriguez, a Kerrville resident who woke to the sound of heavy rain around 2 a.m. Thursday, navigated flooded roads to help evacuate relatives and reflected on the contrast between both events, noting that last year there was no warning at all and it took everyone by surprise overnight, while this year a lot more alerts have gone into place and more safety measures have been implemented.,
That distinction matters. After the July 2025 catastrophe drew fierce scrutiny of local emergency preparedness, authorities appeared to respond with greater urgency this time. ,Residents noted that authorities seemed well prepared compared to the previous year.,
,The storms and flooding threatened multiple counties close to the border with Mexico and in the Texas Hill Country near San Antonio, and city officials in Kerrville urged people to shelter at the highest levels of their homes.,
Governor Issues Disaster Declarations
Governor Abbott moved swiftly to mobilize state resources. ,Abbott issued disaster declarations for multiple counties, as emergency crews continued rescue operations and meteorologists tracked the movement of the flood wave downriver.
,As of 7:15 a.m. Thursday, numerous flash flood emergencies were issued by the National Weather Service and were expected to last until at least 3 p.m. local time, with the NWS asking people in the area to seek higher ground immediately.,
Officials stressed that road travel remained extremely dangerous. Anyone not under an evacuation order was urged to remain in place and wait for further guidance from local authorities.
As of the time of this publication, search and rescue operations are ongoing, floodwaters continue to rise in several communities, and officials have not ruled out additional fatalities. Residents in affected areas are urged to monitor local emergency alerts, avoid all floodwaters and roads, and follow all evacuation orders without hesitation.