Among those missing are several girls who were attending summer camp when the floods began.
ABC News
The Fourth of July holiday weekend turned tragic in Texas as flash floods swept through the state, claiming the lives of over 100 people and leaving more than 160 missing. According to AP News, the floods struck the Texas Hill Country—located in the central part of the state—on Friday, July 4, 2025. The area, known for its dry, densely packed soil, is naturally prone to flash flooding, as rainwater tends to slide over the surface rather than be absorbed.
Among those missing are several girls who were attending summer camp when the floods began. The disaster followed an intense storm that dropped nearly 12 inches of rain in the early hours of Friday morning. While a flood watch was issued by midday Thursday, it was only escalated to an urgent warning by the National Weather Service around 4 a.m. Friday. This level of alert indicates the potential for catastrophic damage and an immediate threat to human life.
Just one hour after the warning was raised, parts of Kerrville began to experience a rapid rise in water levels. Torrential rain surged down the hillsides and flooded into the Guadalupe River, causing the water to rise a staggering 26 feet in just 45 minutes.
Now, nearly five days after the initial disaster, the state of Texas is grappling with one of the largest search and rescue operations in its history. Crews in airboats, helicopters, and even on horseback have joined hundreds of volunteers in the ongoing search for the missing. Heavy equipment is being used to navigate debris and reach flooded areas.
According to Bob Henson, a meteorologist with Yale Climate Connections, the July 4th flooding is likely the deadliest inland flash flood in the United States since 1976, when Colorado's Big Thompson Canyon flood killed 144 people on July 31.
