The death toll in the Texas Hill Country has surged to 43 following a catastrophic flash flood that devastated communities over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Officials fear the number will continue to climb as rescue teams comb through debris and fast-moving waters in search of dozens still missing — including 27 young girls from a local summer camp.
Among the confirmed dead are 15 children and 28 adults, many of whom drowned as waters surged unexpectedly through low-lying areas along the Guadalupe River. As of Saturday evening, 12 adults and 5 children remain unidentified.
"This is a gut-wrenching tragedy — one of the worst weather events in our state's modern history," Governor Greg Abbott said at a Saturday news briefing. "We are throwing every available resource at this operation until we find every last person.”
Campers Among the Missing
The heartache has been especially deep in Hunt, a small town where Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls, sits along the Guadalupe River. Authorities confirmed that 27 campers remain unaccounted for, sparking a wave of online appeals from families desperate for news.
Local officials revealed that most of the camp's communication systems were knocked out by the storm, and heavy tree damage has blocked several access roads.
"This isn’t just a camp to these families — it’s sacred ground," said Susan Vela, a volunteer coordinating a family reunification center at a nearby school. "We’re holding onto hope, but we need answers."
Rainfall Was Extreme and Sudden
According to the National Weather Service, as much as 10 inches of rain fell in parts of the Hill Country within a matter of hours on Thursday night, overwhelming the rocky, impermeable terrain that characterizes the region. The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, creating a deadly torrent that ripped through homes, campgrounds, and local infrastructure.
"The terrain here makes it a hotspot for flash flooding," said Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather. “This kind of rainfall is devastating no matter how well you're prepared.”
Holiday Crowds Made Tracking Difficult
The timing of the storm — during the busy Fourth of July holiday — has made it especially difficult for authorities to determine how many people may still be missing. Local hotels and campgrounds were at or near capacity when the flooding began.
"This is normally a place of celebration and family," said Kerr County Judge Riley Thompson. "Now we’re looking at one of the darkest chapters in our county’s history."
Over 850 Rescued, Thousands Without Power
First responders from across the state, along with federal crews from FEMA, Coast Guard, and Border Patrol, have rescued more than 850 people over the past two days — many of them stranded in trees, vehicles, or rooftops as floodwaters surged around them.
Entire neighborhoods remain without power, clean water, or cell service, complicating relief efforts. In Kerrville and surrounding areas, boil water notices have been issued, and emergency shelters are at capacity.
President Donald Trump, addressing the disaster from Washington, pledged full federal support for the ongoing rescue and recovery effort.
“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”
Trump approved Governor Abbott’s request for a federal disaster declaration Saturday morning, unlocking federal aid for six counties: Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis, and Williamson.
Questions Arise Over Preparedness and Response
In the wake of the disaster, attention is turning to how warnings were issued — and whether they were acted upon.
Both AccuWeather and the National Weather Service (NWS) issued flood watches and flash flood warnings as early as Thursday afternoon. Yet some camps, towns, and recreational areas had not fully evacuated by the time the heaviest rainfall arrived.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who visited the region Saturday, acknowledged growing concerns over the effectiveness of early alerts. She cited long-standing staffing shortages at the NWS, a result of previous federal cuts, though the agency insists it had sufficient coverage for this event.
"There will be time to examine where things went wrong," Noem said. "Right now, we’re focused on saving lives."
Communities Mobilize in Aftermath
Local communities have quickly rallied to support those impacted. At Cross Kingdom Church in Kerrville, volunteers collected so many donations — clothing, food, pet supplies — that by Friday afternoon they had to turn people away due to lack of storage.
“We just need to get the word out to people that we’re here and stocked up,” said Pastor Justin Carpenter. "But with so many still without phones or internet, it’s hard to reach them.”
Rescue teams are also receiving help from experienced volunteers like Billy Lawrence, a 73-year-old retired Red Cross responder who worked during the historic floods of 1987.
“This one is worse,” Lawrence said bluntly as he helped search debris along the river. “The damage is deeper. The death toll’s higher. And a lot more kids are involved.”
He added that camps along the river should adopt stricter nightly weather monitoring procedures. “I’m not saying it’s anyone’s fault. But it should be standard practice in a place like this.”
Looking Ahead
While rescue teams continue their urgent searches, many officials are beginning to think long-term: recovery, rebuilding, and reform.
“This flood exposed vulnerabilities — in communication, in planning, in forecasting,” said Judge Thompson. “We owe it to every grieving family to fix them.”
Governor Abbott has called for a full review of emergency protocols and announced that the Texas Department of Emergency Management would begin working with camps and resorts along major waterways to implement mandatory flood action plans.
