In the early hours of the Fourth of July, catastrophic flooding struck central Texas as the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes.
At least 82 people have died, including 28 children and staff from a girl’s summer camp located next to the river. At least 41 people were unaccounted for in the region.
The floods were at their worst while people were asleep, and survivors have said they didn't receive emergency warnings. Officials described this event as a “100-year-flood,” which means that the water level rose to a highly unlikely point based on historical records. Statistically, a 100-year flood has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year.
Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing. The full extent of the damage may not be assessed for several days, as Central Texas faces more rain and flooding throughout the week of July 7.
(Photo: Flooding near Kerrville, Texas on July 5, 2025. Photo credit: USGS Heartland via X)
