Days after the devastating floods swept through Texas during the July Fourth holiday, many questions remain about how officials prepared and responded to the disaster. The deadly flash floods along the Guadalupe River have left at least 120 people confirmed dead, with over 160 still missing as search efforts continue in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.
Rainfall on July 4 was heavier than expected and hit while most people were asleep, catching many off guard. Forecasts issued on July 3 suggested the possibility of severe weather in the area, but exactly where the worst flooding would occur was uncertain. Two days before the flood, the Texas Division of Emergency Management activated state emergency resources, raising readiness levels on July 3. However, details about where and how equipment and personnel were deployed remain unclear.
Local officials had different experiences. Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick mentioned that a regional coordinator contacted local leaders before the storm to ensure they were aware of the risk. But in Kerr County—one of the hardest-hit areas—Mayor Joe Herring said he never personally received a direct call or clear information about the state’s emergency actions before flooding began.
Once the flood hit, the National Weather Service began issuing flash flood warnings early on July 4, upgrading to a flash-flood emergency by 4 a.m. Local police and sheriff’s offices started sharing flood warnings on social media around 5:15 a.m. Still, it’s unclear how fully local authorities used all alert tools, such as the CodeRED emergency notification system. A review found that although federal warnings were sent to cell phones across Texas between July 3 and 5, Kerr County agencies issued no wireless alerts until after the worst had passed.
Among the places affected was Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls with more than 550 campers and 100 staff at two locations. Texas inspectors had reviewed and approved the camp’s emergency plan just two days before the floods arrived. Camps are responsible for creating evacuation plans, which state inspectors verify. However, it is not known how seriously camp leaders took the weather forecasts. The camp’s location is naturally prone to flash flooding, but the storm was unusually sudden and intense. Witnesses described a fast-moving wall of water that overwhelmed cabins, tragically affecting many of the youngest campers.
Officials have not provided a timeline for releasing more details or investigating the emergency response. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly stated he “did not know this flood was coming,” and he has not appeared at media briefings since July 5. The county’s emergency management coordinator, William “Dub” Thomas, has also avoided media questions. Sheriff Larry Leitha says the focus remains on rescue efforts but promised a review of what happened will come later.
As search and rescue teams continue to work through debris along the Guadalupe River, the community is left waiting for answers about how preparations and emergency responses unfolded during one of Texas’ deadliest floods in recent memory.