Texas Governor: More than 1,000 rescue teams working across state to search for missing flood victims
The Kerr County sheriff said 43 people were killed in floods in Texas.
At least 43 people, including 28 adults and 15 children, died in severe flooding in Kerr County, Texas, on July 4, 2025, CNN reported.
The flooding, caused by torrential rains, caused the Guadalupe River to rise more than 20 feet in less than two hours, devastating the area.
Additionally, 27 people, mostly young girls from Camp Mystic, remain missing and search and rescue efforts involving helicopters, boats and drones are ongoing. More than 850 people have been rescued, and Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the disaster declaration to support the response.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the government’s response and the National Weather Service following the tragic flooding in Texas that killed 43 people, including 15 children.
“When President Trump came into office … he said he wanted to fix it, and he’s building the technology right now. The National Weather Service, along with that and NOAA, has made it clear that we need to replace this antiquated system that has been the foundation of the federal government for many years, and these are ongoing reforms,” Noem said.
The president’s domestic mega-bill, signed into law at the White House on Friday, makes cuts and even closes some weather research labs that are vital to predicting recovery. The Department of Government Productivity, formerly run by Elon Musk, has also laid off hundreds of workers at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the NWS.
When asked about the impact of these cuts, Noem continued to defend the government and the president, saying she would “bring the concerns back to the federal government.”
“I’m bringing your concerns to the federal government and President Trump, and we’re going to do everything we can to fix these things that you and your community members feel are failing, but we know everyone wants more warning time, and that’s why we’ve been working to upgrade the technologies, that have been neglected for too long,” Noem lamented.
Still, this storm was extremely unpredictable and truly unprecedented, the water rose very high very quickly.
As CNN previously reported, the NWS issued a flood warning early Thursday afternoon, highlighting Kerr County as a high-risk area for flash flooding overnight. A flash flood warning was issued for Kerr County at around 1 a.m. Friday. A more serious flash flood emergency warning was issued for Kerr County at 4:03 a.m. and for Kerrville at 5:34 a.m.
Additionally, 27 children from a summer camp specifically for girls called Camp Mystic are still reported missing. The flash flood, which occurred when the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet (about 8 meters) in just 45 minutes, has inundated homes, vehicles and campsites.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott said every missing person is being found on a 24-hour basis.
Authorities say the area is prone to such disasters because it is located in the Texas Hill Country, known as a “flash flood valley,” but flooding of this magnitude is unexpected.
National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts show much more rainfall than expected; Some areas received 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain overnight.
That’s exactly what happened to residents along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County and the surrounding area. At least 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain fell from the sky Friday morning.
The rushing waters along the river rose 26 feet (8 meters) just 45 minutes before dawn Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was far from over, as more heavy rain was expected Saturday and flash flood warnings and flood alerts remained in effect across parts of central Texas.
Some advance notices in Texas
On Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a flood warning, predicting waters of up to 7 inches (17 centimeters) in some spots. A “watch” means conditions are favorable for flooding and people should be prepared, but dangerous conditions may not develop.+
However, the warning was upgraded to a flood warning overnight, affecting 30,000 people. The weather service says a warning is issued when flooding is imminent or has already occurred.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covers a large area and that “everything is being done to give them a heads up that there could be heavy rain.”
But when asked how people in Kerr County are notified so they can get to safety, the county’s chief elected official, Judge Rob Kelly, said: “We don’t have a warning system.”
When reporters pressed him on why more precautions weren’t being taken, Kelly replied: “Don’t worry, nobody knew this flood was coming.”
Source: Musitem Haber
