Above video: Texas President Trump surveys flood damage.
KERRVILLE, Texas – Search operations have been halted by emergency crews following devastating floods that hit central Texas Sunday morning. Officials have expressed new concerns that additional rainfall could exacerbate the already swollen waterways.
As harsh weather leads to interruptions in recovery efforts for the first time since the recent flooding, the Ingram Fire Department has directed search teams to evacuate the Guadalupe River area within Kerr County until further advisories. The ongoing mission focuses on locating those missing from the Fourth of July weekend floods.
Spokesperson Brian Lochte indicated that they plan to resume search and rescue efforts on Monday, contingent on river conditions.
“We’re coordinating a few crew members, along with airboats and search and rescue vessels, as a precaution,” he explained.
As more rain fell on Sunday, the National Weather Service predicted the Guadalupe River might rise nearly 15 feet by the afternoon, surpassing the flood stage by about five feet. This situation could impact the nearby Highway 39 bridge.
Warning from weather officials suggests that many secondary roads and bridges are currently underwater and extremely hazardous.
Just before dawn on July 4, destructive water levels on the Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes, inundating homes and vehicles. Since that day, rescuers—utilizing helicopters, boats, and drones—have been searching for victims and assisting people stranded due to washed-out roads.
The floods have significantly impacted the Hill Country area of Texas, where the banks and hills around Kerr County are typically home to vacation cabins, youth camps, and campsites. Camp Mystic, a long-standing Christian girls’ summer camp, was notably affected.
Situated in a low area along the river, this location is infamous for its susceptibility to flash floods and has experienced serious damage.
Experts noted that the intensity of this flood event exceeded predictions from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, catching many by surprise due to the rapid rise of water overnight. There were no warnings issued in advance.
The sheer volume of rainfall has been astonishing. Meteorologist Ryan Maue calculated that over 120 billion gallons of water fell on Kerr County during the storm.
This summer’s flash floods, driven by intense rainfall, have been deadly in other regions of Texas as well. For instance, in San Antonio, over seven inches of rain fell in just a few hours in June, which prompted numerous rescues and resulted in at least 13 fatalities.
