A catastrophic flash flood ripped through the heart of the Texas Hill Country early Friday morning, July 4, transforming the Guadalupe River into a deadly torrent that killed at least 52 people, left dozens more missing, and caused widespread devastation from Hunt to Ingram and Kerrville.
Fueled by torrential overnight rain—more than 10 inches in some areas—the river swelled with astonishing speed, rising more than 26 feet in just 45 minutes near Hunt. Official flood gauges topped out near 29 feet before they were overtaken or damaged. Emergency responders and meteorologists say the river’s sudden rise was among the most extreme flash flood events in modern Texas history.
Much of the death and destruction occurred before dawn, as storms pounded the region while many residents and visitors were asleep. The National Weather Service had issued flash flood emergencies for Kerrville and surrounding towns, but officials now acknowledge that the warnings may have come too late to save lives. Rescue personnel described the rapid rise of water as “unsurvivable” in some locations.
