A severe flash flood on July 4 in Texas Hill Country, caused by a stalled weather system and remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, became the deadliest flood in Texas in over a century. The disaster, which caught many off guard, resulted in significant loss of life, particularly among campers, and has prompted questions about inadequate warning systems and the political denial of climate change in the region.
Survival, loss and rescue during the Texas floods
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A severe flash flood on July 4 in Texas Hill Country, caused by a stalled weather system and remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, became the deadliest flood in Texas in over a century. The disaster, which caught many off guard, resulted in significant loss of life, particularly among campers, and has prompted questions about inadequate warning systems and the political denial of climate change in the region.
Trending- 1 1932, 1978, 1987: Past major floods in the region.
- 2 2016: Tom Moser proposed autonomous river gauges and sirens for Kerr County, but funding was denied.
- 3 July 4, after 1 a.m.: Lorena Guillen receives flood alert.
- 4 July 4, around 2 a.m.: Guadalupe River begins to surge.
- 5 July 4, 3:45 a.m. - 6:10 a.m.: River gauge in Hunt rises significantly.
- 6 July 4, 4:03 a.m.: National Weather Service issues a sharper warning.
- 7 July 4, around 5 a.m.: River gauge in Kerrville rises significantly.
- 8 July 4, just after 9 a.m.: Flood waters arrive in Comfort, sirens blare.
- 9 Tuesday (before July 11, 2025): Nicholas Panagiotou meets Justin Brown at Howdy's.
- 10 Wednesday (before July 11, 2025): Governor Greg Abbott announces a special legislative session.
- 11 Week's end (before July 11, 2025): 161 people still missing.
- The flood became the deadliest in Texas in over a century, with a high death toll and many missing persons.
- Widespread destruction of homes, RVs, and infrastructure occurred along the Guadalupe River.
- The disaster prompted calls for improvements to state-wide flood warning systems and a legislative session.
- It highlighted the challenges of disaster communication, 'alert fatigue,' and the political sensitivity of discussing climate change in the region.
What: A deadly flash flood occurred in Texas Hill Country, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 campers and counselors, with 161 people still missing, and widespread destruction of property.
When: The main deluge occurred on July 4, starting around 2 a.m. and continuing through the morning. The article was published on July 11, 2025.
Where: Texas Hill Country, specifically along the Guadalupe River, affecting areas like Howdy’s, Blue Oak RV Park, River Inn Resort & Conference Center, Camp Mystic, Hunt, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort.
Why: The flood was caused by a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) meeting the moisture-laden remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, which stalled directly over the Guadalupe’s south fork headwaters. Steep limestone hills and shallow soil exacerbated the runoff. Inadequate warning systems, 'alert fatigue,' and political denial of climate change also contributed to the high death toll.
How: An intense, localized downpour caused the Guadalupe River to rise rapidly and surge downstream, sweeping away people, RVs, and buildings. Many residents and campers were caught off guard due to late or unheeded warnings, spotty phone coverage, and unfamiliarity with flash-flood dynamics.