A flood gauge marks the peak of water flowing over a farm-to-market street close to Kerrville, Texas, on Friday, July 4, 2025.
Eric Homosexual | AP
The demise toll from devastating floods within the Texas Hill Nation rose to 24 Friday night time, officers stated, as a the seek for greater than 20 individuals lacking from a ladies summer time camp continued by the night time.
The water from the flooded Guadalupe River swept into Kerr County and different areas round 4 a.m. Friday after heavy rains in a single day, authorities stated. Our bodies have been reported to have been present in automobiles swept away from upstream.
Gov. Greg Abbott known as it an “extraordinary disaster,” and stated that search and rescue missions will proceed by the night time.
“They’ll proceed within the darkness of night time, they are going to be happening when the solar rises within the morning. They are going to be continuous,” Abbott stated at a press convention Friday night time.
The lacking are from Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, which was internet hosting 750 youngsters this week. Helicopters ferried dozens to security Friday. Texas Sport Wardens stated within the night that they have been in a position to attain the camp with autos to carry out others.
Between 23 and 25 individuals from Camp Mystic are unaccounted for, Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha Jr. stated.
Leitha stated Friday night time that the confirmed deaths within the county have been 24, up from the 13 that he reported earlier within the day. A demise was additionally reported in Kendall County, he stated.
Texas Director of Public Security Col. Freeman Martin known as the catastrophe “a mass casualty occasion.”
A raging Guadalupe River leaves fallen bushes and particles in its wake, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas.
Eric Homosexual | AP
Helicopters with hoists have been used to rescue survivors, together with individuals from bushes, officers stated. Adjutant Basic of Texas Main Basic Thomas Suelzer stated that by Friday night time 237 individuals had been rescued, 167 of whom have been dropped at security by helicopter.
Greater than 400 individuals have been on the bottom responding to the catastrophe, Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick stated.
The Division of Homeland Safety stated the U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Administration Company had been activated. Patrick stated he had been in touch with President Donald Trump.
Trump known as the floods “horrible” when requested by reporters concerning the scenario Friday night time on Air Drive One, and he stated the U.S. authorities will assist.
“We’re working with the governor. It is a horrible factor,” he stated.
Helicopters Friday transported youngsters from Camp Mystic to security Friday, video from NBC affiliate WOAI of San Antonio confirmed.
Texas Sport Wardens stated on Fb Friday night: “Have made entry into Camp Mystic with autos and are starting to carry campers out!”
Patrick stated that though round 20 youngsters have been unaccounted for, “that doesn’t imply they have been misplaced.”
“They could possibly be in a tree. They could possibly be out of communication,” he stated. “We’re praying for all of these lacking to be discovered alive. We’re doing every little thing we are able to to get in there.”
Elements of Kerr County bought a little bit greater than 10 inches of rain over 24 hours, the Nationwide Climate Service stated at 4 p.m. Friday. Farther north, Llano County bought 8 1/2 inches over that interval.
“We misplaced every little thing. Lots of people misplaced every little thing,” one survivor advised WOAI in Kerrville. A neighborhood Walmart gave him a pair of sneakers. “No one anticipated this,” he stated.
One other man in Kerrville advised the station that his brother’s home is lacking after the flood — together with the brother, his spouse and their two youngsters.
Earlier within the day, Camp Mystic issued a press release telling mother and father: “In case your daughter just isn’t accounted for, you’ve been notified,” whereas indicating ladies positioned in different components of the camp had been discovered secure.
The officers stated the close by freeway was washed away and that the realm remained with out energy, water or web and was “struggling” to get extra assist.
“Please proceed to wish and ship any assist if in case you have contacts to take action,” the officers wrote.
The camp, about two hours west of Austin, is for women between the ages of seven and 17, and it was on account of rejoice its one hundredth anniversary subsequent 12 months.
It is positioned close to the Guadalupe River, which authorities stated surged as a lot as 22 toes in simply half an hour Friday morning to a top of 30 toes within the close by city of Consolation in Kerr County, breaking a report that had stood for many years.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, additionally issued a assertion on X shortly after 4 p.m. ET.
“Please pray proper now for everybody within the Hill Nation, particularly Camp Mystic,” he wrote. “At this time, I’ve spoken with Gov Abbott, Lt. Gov Patrick, the top of TDEM & President Trump. A number of helicopters are performing search & rescue. President Trump dedicated ANYTHING Texas wants.”
The pressure of the water in Ingram in Kerr County smashed the home windows of houses and ripped off doorways and paneling, video from WOAI confirmed.
Footage on social media confirmed an SUV swept away by raging floodwaters in Kerrville. The one that recorded it stated the video was taken Friday morning.
The Guadalupe River had crested at Kerrville and Consolation by Friday night, however different components of the river downstream weren’t forecast to crest till Saturday morning.
The Guadalupe River close to Spring Department was forecast to crest at 37.2 toes, categorised as average flood stage, round 2 a.m. Saturday, in accordance with the Nationwide Climate Service.
NBC meteorologist Invoice Karins stated that the rain occasion “simply sat right here” within the space in a single day into Friday morning in hilly terrain.
“It is not just like the mountains within the Rockies or within the Appalachians, however there are hills — and in order that water will rush down the hills and accumulate within the smaller streams, after which all of it combines, and all into the Guadalupe,” Karins stated on NBC Information Now.
Lina Hidalgo, the choose of Harris County, the place Houston is, stated 5 of the useless are from the Houston or Harris County space.
“All of Texas is impacted by this tragic occasion,” she wrote on X.
Flood warnings all through the state stay in place by the weekend.
“There may be an ongoing risk for potential flash flooding from San Antonio to Waco for the following 24 to 48 hours, along with the continued dangers in west and central Texas,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stated in a press release.
