6 dead in devastating flood, stories begin to emerge of rescues

A catastrophic flood that swept through the Texas Hill Country early Friday morning has killed six people and left multiple others missing, including children from a summer camp and an entire family, as the Guadalupe River reached its second-highest level on record.

The deadly flooding prompted disaster declarations from both Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. and Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, who described the event as “very devastating and deadly” and said it “far surpasses the 87 flow” — referring to the historic 1987 flood that previously served as the area’s benchmark disaster.

Multiple children from Camp Mystic are missing, with officials saying some are stranded while others remain unaccounted for. In a message to parents, Camp Mystic said it has “sustained catastrophic level floods” and has “no power, water, or wifi.” The camp reported that “all Cypress Lake campers are accounted for” and “all campers on senior hill are accounted for,” but said parents whose daughters are not accounted for have been notified. “If you have not been personally contacted then your daughter is accounted for,” the camp stated. The camp said it is “working with search and rescue currently” and that “the highway has washed away so we are struggling to get more help.” At least one family of five is missing from an RV park near Ingram. The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the six fatalities but said it will not release further details until next of kin are notified.

Record-Breaking Water Levels

The National Weather Service said the Guadalupe River at Hunt reached its second-highest height on record at 5:10 a.m., surpassing levels from the 1987 flood. The river was forecast to crest at 34 feet at 6 a.m. USGS data shows Johnson Creek near Ingram reached 810 cubic feet per second on July 4, far exceeding the historical maximum of 300 cfs recorded in 2002 and dramatically above the median flow of 12 cfs.

Over 7 inches of rain fell in six hours across Kerr County, with some areas receiving between 6-7 inches of rainfall that caused major rises in the river system. The National Weather Service issued Flash Flood Emergencies, warning of “life-threatening flash flooding.”

Dramatic Rescues and Evacuations

The scale of the emergency became clear through harrowing rescue accounts and ongoing search efforts. Keri Wilt, who lives in Hunt, told The Kerr County Lead that her 83-year-old mother, who also lives in Hunt, was hosting family and they had to break through the roof to escape rising floodwaters.

Andrew Lacy, who lives about 10 miles past the Hunt Store on Highway 39, had 15 family members expected at his house but only 12 arrived. Around 3:30 a.m., he received a text from missing relatives saying “they were in a tree,” he said. Communication has been difficult with many texts failing to go through, forcing families to rely on satellite features on iPhones.

In another case, Steve and Marilyn Edwards of San Angelo were camping at the HTX RV resort off Goat Creek Cutoff when they were evacuated. Their daughters, Allison and Courtney Edwards of Austin, learned their mother was hospitalized but their father remains missing.

Peterson Health said it is “working diligently in response to today’s horrible event” and provided a number for families seeking information on loved ones who may be at the facility.

Kerrville authorities urged residents who live within 100 yards of the river to “evacuate now” as water overtook several streets in town. A reunification area was set up at the Walmart at 2106 Junction Highway. The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office worked to evacuate people on State Highway 39 near the Guadalupe River in Hunt, and the Texas Department of Transportation closed the highway.

Kelly said RV parks along the Guadalupe River were hit hard early Friday morning, with many people awaiting rescue.

Infrastructure Crippled

The flooding crippled infrastructure throughout the region. The Kerrville Public Utility Board reported widespread power outages affecting approximately 2,646 customers as of 9:30 a.m., with Southeast Kerrville, Center Point and Hunt among the hardest hit areas. The Hunt Substation is flooded and remains inaccessible for damage assessment. Power lines crossing rivers near Riverhill and Center Point are down, along with lines on Highway 173.

The city’s water treatment plant on Lake Nimitz, a reservoir on the Guadalupe River, was damaged, forcing the city to switch to wells. City Manager Dalton Rice urged residents to conserve water.

Holiday Celebration Destroyed

The city’s “Fourth on the River” holiday celebration was cancelled after Louise Hays Park flooded Friday morning. The stage for the event was seen downstream in a crumbled mass, caught by trees just east of the park, illustrating the destructive power of the floodwaters.

State Assistance Requested

In a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, Herring requested state assistance, writing that “this incident is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond The City of Kerrville’s capabilities to recover without supplementary state and/or federal assistance.”

Kelly said officials have been in contact with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and state legislators to coordinate resources. He called for “cooperation and prayers” from the public and advised those wanting to donate to do so through the American Red Cross.

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has established the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to support local response, relief and recovery efforts. The fund is accessible at https://tinyurl.com/KerrFloodRelief.

Multiple road closures remain in effect throughout the county as emergency officials continue search and rescue operations.

This is a developing story.