104 dead as hard-hit areas in Texas face new flooding risks: Updates

Search and rescue workers use a sonar device while paddling down the Guadalupe River in a boat looking for survivors or the remains of victims swept up in the flash flooding on July 7, 2025 in Hunt, Texas. Heavy rainfall early Friday caused severe flash flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas.

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on Texas flooding for Monday, July 7. For the latest news on the Texas floods, read USA TODAY's coverage for Tuesday, July 8.

Rescue teams in central Texas scoured storm-ravaged terrain Monday looking for survivors as the death toll from last week's catastrophic flooding rose to at least 104 and bouts of heavy rain battered hard-hit areas.

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Monday that the county’s fatality count is now 84, including 56 adults and 28 children. Identification is pending for 22 adults and 10 children.

The area hardest hit by the floods was Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River was rapidly overwhelmed by heavy rain on July 4. The river rose to more than 20 feet in a matter of hours at several locations as it rushed downstream toward Kerrville, a city of 24,000.

Among the dead were at least 27 children and counselors from Camp Mystic, a beloved all-girls summer camp in Kerr County, where the worst of the flooding broke out. At least 10 girls and one counselor remain missing, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a news conference Monday.

"Texas is grieving right now. The pain, the shock of what has transpired these last few days has broken the heart of our state," said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Cruz said he was heartbroken by the loss of children at Camp Mystic, describing it as "every parent’s nightmare."

There were about 700 children at the camp when relentless rain caused the nearby Guadalupe River to surge over 26 feet in less than an hour on Friday, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said. Photos taken at the scene show a building, where some of the children slept, with broken windows and a blown-out wall. Among the mud-covered debris were pink blankets and stuffed animals.

As rescuers resumed searches for missing people by air, land, and water, officials warned those in Central Texas that there remains a danger of "life-threatening flooding." Multiple flash flood warnings were active across the Hill Country as storms drenched the region, inundating roads and waterways.

Developments:

∎ Potent, slow-moving storms over central Texas have begun to trigger flooding in areas already hard-hit by the state. Forecasters with the National Weather Service have issued flash flood warnings and said that several more inches were expected to fall through the rest of the day. Drier weather is forecasted for the middle to end of the week.

∎ Authorities have rescued over 850 people since the devastating flooding began last week, Cruz said at a news conference.

∎ President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he plans to visit Texas later this week. Trump has signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, unlocking federal funding for first responders and offering FEMA assistance to victims of the flash floods.

Officials urge public to not use private drones amid search efforts

Kerr County officials and the Williamson County Sheriff's Office urged the public on Monday not to fly personal drones and keep them grounded as search and rescue operations continue.

"As a reminder, please do not fly personal drones," the Williamson County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "They interfere with Public Safety operations and put lives at risk. Leave the skies clear for emergency responders."

Earlier on Monday, Kerr County officials reported that a private drone was illegally operating in restricted airspace and collided with a helicopter involved in emergency operations. The helicopter made an emergency landing, according to the county.

No injuries were reported, but the county said a "critical piece of response equipment" was now out of service until further notice.

"This was entirely preventable. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are not suggestions. They are federal airspace rules designed to protect lives during emergency situations," the county said in a statement. "When you fly a drone in restricted areas, you’re not just breaking the law -- you’re putting first responders, emergency crews, and the public at serious risk."

At least 62 people rescued in Burnet County

During a news conference on Monday, Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd said at least 62 people were rescued in the county, including some who were stranded in attics and trees, and on top of vehicles and roofs.

Four deaths have been confirmed in the county, and authorities were still searching for two missing people, the sheriff said.

Boyd noted the difficulties of the searches due to the county's location in Texas Hill Country. The region is known for its rugged, rolling terrain, in which heavy rains collect quickly in shallow streams and rivers.

"With all the debris that the flood brought downstream, we're having to helicopter a lot of (rescue workers) in," Boyd said at the news conference. "With the humidity and the heat, it doesn't take long for these folks to get wore out. So we're having to shuffle people in every couple of hours down there."

Flood watch expires, advisories continue along river areas

A flood watch for Hill Country and the Interstate 35 corridor expired at 7 p.m. CT, according to the National Weather Service. The agency extended riverside flood watches and warnings, with some advisories lasting through Thursday.

Some isolated activity was expected late Monday and overnight east of the I-35 corridor, according to the weather service. More locally heavy rainfall is also possible on Tuesday, but mainly east of the I-35 corridor where run-off impacts were not as severe.

"While the atmosphere will likely not be as supportive of the very high rain rates seen over the past few days, remain vigilant as these coastal showers could push over highly saturated ground," the weather service office in Austin and San Antonio said in a forecast discussion.

Despite the forecast of less rain, AccuWeather warned that dangerous conditions remain a concern into Monday night.

"There is a concern we have into Wednesday; there are additional flare-ups or clusters of thunderstorms in parts of central and eastern Texas," according to AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.

Over 20 Texas agencies responding to flooding

More than 20 state agencies are currently responding to flooding threats across Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement on Monday. The state has also deployed over 1,750 personnel and more than 975 vehicles and equipment assets, including rescue boat teams and Blackhawk helicopters.

Abbott urged residents to monitor local forecast information due to the ongoing risk of flooding for large portions of the state, such as Central Texas, the Hill Country, Big Country, and the Concho Valley.

"Texans are urged to remain weather aware, heed the guidance of local officials, and regularly monitor weather forecasts," Abbott said. "Texas will remain engaged until every missing person is found and every Texan recovers from this disaster."

Lost pets could also signal the depth of destruction

Non-profit pet shelter Austin Pets Alive! has taken in over 230 animals, primarily from shelters impacted by the floods. Lindsay O'Gan, the shelter's instructional design manager who is in Kerrville with the rescue and reunification efforts, told USA TODAY on Monday that the magnitude of loss could be foreshadowed in their work.

"It happened so fast. In the same way, we are seeing so much human missing and casualty ... I think the numbers are going to be much higher than we realize," O'Gan said. "Maybe 80%, 90% of the animals that are reported to us are lost, their owners are also lost or deceased."

She added that animal organizations working in the Hill Country will need help long after the waters recede.

— James Powel

Mexico, several states send crews to assist in search operations

Volunteer firefighters from the Mexican border town of Acuña are helping search and rescue crews in the Kerrville area. Search-and-rescue operations continue around the clock, as hundreds of emergency personnel on the ground contend with debris, mud, and other challenges.

The team of firefighters is working in conjunction with the nonprofit organization Foundation 911 to assist in search efforts in Kerrville, according to a protective services government agency in Acuña. The crews arrived in the area early Sunday.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said on Monday that he is sending a 45-member search and rescue team to help crews in Central Texas for up to 14 days. The team includes two canine teams as well as boats and vehicles.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also said that his state will deploy three swift water rescue teams through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to assist with response and recovery. And Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry sent 14 state swift water rescue personnel to help with efforts.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he was deploying search-and-rescue teams to Texas to help with response efforts. The teams are highly experienced in major disaster rescue operations, including the 9/11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, according to the governor.

Texas county where campers died denied money to boost warning systems

Nearly a decade before catastrophic flooding in Texas, the state’s Division of Emergency Management denied requests from the county where the summer camp is held for a $1 million grant to improve its flood warning system. 

Summer camps were top of mind during county leaders’ discussions of the project, meeting minutes show. Then-County Commissioner Tom Moser envisioned designating point people at each camp who would monitor a website and alert camp counselors and attendees if evacuation was needed. 

The Texas Division of Emergency Management denied Kerr County’s 2017 application, according to meeting minutes. Kerr County applied again in 2018 when more federal funding became available after Hurricane Harvey.

— Kenny Jacoby

Flooding is a reminder of the importance of insurance

“One of the more devastating things about this event was that it was known risk,” said Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications at real estate data provider First Street, in an interview with USA TODAY. Camp Mystic was right on the edge of a Special Flood Hazard Area, as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Porter noted.

But even knowing the risks may not be enough to protect American homeowners.

In Kerr County, where Camp Mystic is located, only 2,650 properties fall in FEMA’s hazard area, meaning they are required to have flood insurance. Homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover damage from flooding. First Street’s own models find 4,592 properties with what it calls “100-year risk” in the county – nearly double the number FEMA counts.

But there are no checks on whether homeowners do carry flood insurance, and experts like Porter say only about 50% of all potentially affected homeowners do buy it. First Street's models differ from FEMA's in that they incorporate the effects of extreme precipitation, which FEMA does not account for. First Street also uses climate-change models to extrapolate changing risk into the future.

– Andrea Riquier

Guadalupe River sets record high crest at Hunt

The Guadalupe River set a record high crest of 37.52 feet at Hunt, Texas, on July 4, the U.S. Geological Survey said. This broke the previous record of 36.60 feet, set on July 2, 1932. Hunt is about six miles from Camp Mystic, the site of some of the worst devastation.

According to the USGS, flood impacts of 32 feet or higher at that gage location will lead to "disastrous life-threatening flooding (that) puts water over the roads of lowest camps and resorts from the headwaters of the North and South Forks to below Comfort."

White House calls blaming Trump’s cuts for flood response a 'depraved lie'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the National Weather Service’s performance during the Texas floods and lashed out at Democrats who have suggested Trump’s recent cuts to the agency prevented floods victims from getting alerts sooner.

“Unfortunately, in the wake of this once-in-a-generation natural disaster, we have seen many falsehoods pushed by Democrats such as Sen. Chuck Schumer and some members of the media,” Leavitt said in a Monday briefing with reporters. “Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning.”

Leavitt pointed to “timely and precise forecasts and warnings” from the weather service on July 3 and on the morning of July 4, when she said the agency gave preliminary lead times of more than three hours before flash-flooding conditions occurred.

"The National Weather Service did its job," Leavitt said. "They gave out timely flash flood alerts. There were record-breaking lead times in the leadup to this catastrophe. There is ongoing flood monitoring. And these offices were staffed. In fact, one of the offices was actually overstaffed."

– Joey Garrison

Schumer wants probe of National Weather Service response in Texas

The Senate's top Democrat on Monday asked a government watchdog to investigate whether cuts at the National Weather Service affected the forecasting agency's response to catastrophic and deadly flooding in Central Texas.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, asked the Department of Commerce's acting inspector general Monday to probe whether staffing vacancies at the weather service's San Antonio office contributed to "delays, gaps or diminished accuracy" in forecasting the flooding. He asked the watchdog to scrutinize the office's communications with Kerr County officials.

The weather service did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Schumer's letter. It defended its forecasting and emergency management before, during and after the flood, in a statement Sunday.

Texas Hill Country, known as 'flash flood alley,' is prone to flooding

The catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country took place in a region that's known as "flash flood alley," a geographic area that also includes many of the state's major metropolitan areas, such as San Antonio, Dallas, Austin and Waco.

This region is among the nation's most prone to flash flooding, known for its propensity for fast and furious flooding when extreme rain falls, Alan Gerard, CEO of weather consulting company Balanced Weather said. As bountiful, moist air from the Gulf moves over the steep hills, it can dump heavy rain.

Experts said the devastating flash flooding was not a surprise, based on historical and prehistorical data.

"The flooding was certainly extreme but it should not have been historically unexpected," said Roger Pielke, Jr., a political scientist who has written about disaster preparedness and climate change. "The documented record of extreme flooding in 'flash flood alley' goes back several centuries."

What we know about Texas flood victims

A director of a Texas summer camp for girls who was known as the "heart and soul" of the program. Two sisters found together after being swept away by floodwaters. A beloved teacher from the Houston metropolitan area. A local high school soccer coach and his wife.

They are among the dozens who have died in the destructive flooding that tore across central Texas late last week and over the weekend. State and local officials said search and rescue efforts were still underway, including for 10 children and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp at the edge of the Guadalupe River.

'If we could go back and do it again, we would evacuate'

Answering questions about the emergency warnings that came too late for many, Cruz said a review of what happened will come after those still missing are found and recovered.

Cruz said the National Weather Service issued emergency warnings just after 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. and noted that many were asleep when the alerts were sent out. He said reviews of the timeline will focus on whether there are tools that would enable earlier detection of major floods – a challenge when floodwaters rise as quickly as they did on Friday.

"If we can go back and do it again, we would evacuate particularly those in the most vulnerable areas – the young children in the cabins closest to the water ... the people in RVs," Cruz said.

“Next time there is a flood, I hope we have in place processes to remove especially the most vulnerable from harm’s way,” he said. “But that will be a process that will take careful examination of what happened.”

How many people have died in the Texas floods?

Below are the latest numbers of reported fatalities from state and local officials across central Texas.

• Kerr County: 84 deaths
• Travis County: 7 deaths
• Kendall County: 6 deaths
• Burnet County: 4 deaths
• Williamson County: 2 deaths
• Tom Green County: 1 death

Flooding ongoing as storms ramp up in central Texas

Across the rain-soaked Texas Hill Country, thunderstorms have triggered additional flooding, inundating roadways and trapping motorists in their vehicles, officials said.

The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings, which indicate that flooding is either ongoing or imminent, across multiple central Texas counties, including Burnet, Bell, Coryell, and Lampasas. Federal forecasters say 2 to 5 inches of rain has fallen and several more inches are expected.

"Multiple roads are becoming impassable due to flood waters, and there have been several reports of vehicles stranded on flooded roadways," the weather service said in a flood warning set to expire at 10:15 a.m. local time. "Flash flooding is already occurring."

Rapid DNA being used to identify Texas flood victims

While rescue crews are searching for missing people, authorities are also scrambling to identify the bodies of victims recovered in the aftermath of the Independence Day floods.

In a statement Sunday evening, the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said 18 adults and 10 children are at a funeral home and still need to be identified.

Texas Rangers are collecting DNA from family members and deceased victims and flying them to the University of North Texas near Dallas for analysis, said Col. Freeman Martin of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

“We will have answers with rapid DNA in hours – not days – to get some closure and information back to these families,” Martin said.

A scream that saved lives as floodwaters barreled across Texas

When Matthew Crowder got to work at Texas Paintball around 4 a.m. on July 5, the floodwaters had already begun to rise. He noticed the water was encircling a nearby home, so he called 911 and later began to scream.

Inside, Chrissy Eliashar was awoken by her son and quickly sprang into action, gathering her three children, a family friend and her four dogs and headed for the porch. There, she watched helplessly as her car floated away. They tried to go through the backyard, but it had "already become a lake."

Crowder, who was clinging to a nearby chain-link fence, yelled for the family to make their way to him. The family waded into the knee-deep water and Eliashar's young daughter fell and lost her shoe. They managed to reach a nearby pickup truck, where Crowder pulled them to safety.

– N'dea Yancey-Bragg

How much rain fell during Texas floods

How to donate to Texas flood victims

In the wake of the deadly Texas floods, a variety of aid groups, nonprofits and other organizations are accepting donations to help victims and assist in the recovery effort.

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country started a Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, which will provide aid to vetted organizations in Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and other areas. Crowdfunding website GoFundMe has an updated page for verified fundraisers connected to flood victims and their families.

Other organizations accepting donations include World Central Kitchen and the Salvation Army, which is distributing supplies and has set up a mobile kitchen in the disaster area.

– James Powel

Warnings for deadly Texas flash flooding came with little time to act

For the meteorologists and hydrologists tracking the weather patterns that led to the deadly floods across Texas Hill Country, the most urgent advisories weren’t deployed until it was almost too late, according to interviews and advisories.

Forecasters said they pushed out warnings as fast as they got the data. But the hilly terrain and the trickiness of predicting flash floods made forecasting and alerting communities along the Guadalupe River in real time particularly challenging. 

– Rick Jervis

Guadalupe River rose nearly 30 feet in less than an hour

Contributing: Zac Anderson and Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY; Reuters