Key Points
- At least 51 people, including 15 children, have died in catastrophic flash floods in Texas Hill Country, with dozens still missing.
- A wall of water from the Guadalupe River, rising up to 29 feet in under an hour, destroyed homes and summer camps, including Camp Mystic, where 27 girls remain unaccounted for.
- Rescue teams have saved over 850 people, but search and recovery efforts continue amid ongoing rain and hazardous conditions.
- Questions mount over the effectiveness of weather warnings and the impact of recent mass layoffs at the National Weather Service and NOAA.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott has requested a federal disaster declaration to speed up aid, as the state grapples with one of its deadliest natural disasters in decades.
Texas: A sudden and catastrophic flash flood has claimed at least 51 lives in Central Texas, including 15 children, after a torrent of rain caused the Guadalupe River to surge 29 feet in just 45 minutes. The disaster struck early Friday morning, overwhelming communities in Kerr County and beyond, and leaving a trail of destruction across the Texas Hill Country.
The deluge, described by officials as a “once-in-a-century” event, dumped a month’s worth of rain in a matter of hours. The fast-rising waters swept away homes, vehicles, and entire summer camps. Among the hardest-hit was Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp, where 27 campers remain missing. At least four girls from the camp have been confirmed dead, and the search continues for others.
Search and Rescue: Race Against Time
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that search and rescue operations are ongoing, with more than 850 people rescued so far, many of whom were stranded in trees or on rooftops. Emergency crews have conducted over 160 air rescues as they battle flooded roads, downed power lines, and continued rainfall.
Officials warn that the number of casualties may rise as search teams comb through devastated areas. Many of the missing are children and staff from summer camps, as well as families whose homes were swept away by the floodwaters.
Meteorological Warnings and System Failures
The National Weather Service (NWS) had issued a moderate flood watch for the area a day before the disaster, forecasting 5 to 7 inches of rain. However, the actual rainfall far exceeded predictions, with some locations receiving up to 15 inches overnight. The NWS escalated warnings in the early morning hours, but the river’s rapid rise caught many residents and local officials off guard.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged that while warnings were issued, the scale and intensity of the flooding were unprecedented and not fully anticipated. She added that the federal government is working to upgrade forecasting systems in response to the disaster.
Calls for Federal Aid and Disaster Declaration
Texas Governor Greg Abbott toured the disaster zone and has formally requested President Donald Trump to sign a federal disaster declaration, which would unlock critical resources for the affected communities. Abbott praised the resilience of Texans and vowed that search and rescue operations would continue “until every missing person is found”.
Staffing Crisis at the National Weather Service
The disaster has reignited concerns about recent mass layoffs at the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Over 1,300 NOAA employees, including hundreds of meteorologists, have been laid off this year, leading to staff shortages at weather offices nationwide. Experts warn that reduced staffing could compromise the agency’s ability to provide timely and accurate warnings, though it remains unclear if this directly contributed to the lack of early alerts for the Texas floods.
Community Impact and Ongoing Threats
Entire neighborhoods along the Guadalupe River have been devastated, with homes, businesses, and infrastructure swept away. The floodwaters reached their second-highest level on record, surpassing even the historic floods of 1987. As rain continues to fall and flash flood warnings remain in effect, authorities urge residents to stay vigilant and heed evacuation orders.
Table: Texas Hill Country Flood Disaster Overview
| Statistic | Details |
|---|---|
| Death Toll | At least 51 (including 15 children) |
| Missing Persons | 27 girls from Camp Mystic, others unaccounted for |
| People Rescued | Over 850 |
| River Rise | Up to 29 feet in under 1 hour |
| Disaster Declaration | Statewide, federal aid requested |
| NOAA/NWS Staff Cuts | Over 1,300 jobs lost in 2025 |
What Happens Next?
With search and rescue efforts ongoing and rain still threatening the region, Texas faces a long road to recovery. The disaster has exposed vulnerabilities in the nation’s weather warning systems and highlighted the critical importance of robust meteorological services especially as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe. State and federal officials have pledged to provide every possible resource to help the affected communities rebuild and recover.
