At least two people are dead and more than 200 have been rescued after catastrophic flash floods swept through Texas's Hill Country, a region still grappling with the trauma of last summer's deadly floods that killed over 100 people, Governor Greg Abbott said Thursday.
Rescuers using boats and helicopters pulled stranded drivers and trapped residents from homes as the Guadalupe River surged more than 30 feet in some spots. Abbott warned that the hardest-hit areas face more rain into Friday, with rivers expected to reach historic levels.
A Grim Repeat: One Year After Camp Mystic Tragedy
The flooding comes just over a year after flash floods on the same river killed two dozen children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a tragedy that sparked lawsuits and criticism of local emergency response. That disaster, detailed in a legal battle over the Camp Mystic flood aftermath, left the region on edge.
This time, residents said warnings came earlier and more frequently. Forecasters issued urgent alerts to move to higher ground as rivers rose hour by hour. Governor Abbott noted that more than 2,000 first responders were deployed and some evacuations began before the worst hit.
“What happened last year was a warning to people on or near rivers,” Abbott said. “No one can be complacent.”
Two Victims, Two Counties
One victim died near Uvalde after driving onto a flooded road and being swept away, the governor said. The other died in Kerr County. Jennie Steward identified her husband, 65-year-old John Mark Steward of Kerrville, whose body was found Thursday. Their mobile home was swept off its platform and floated down Goat Creek on the Guadalupe. The couple had spoken by phone Wednesday to celebrate their third anniversary.
In Uvalde County, up to 28 inches of rain fell over three days, the National Weather Service reported. Other areas saw roughly a foot of rain. Floodwaters isolated the city of Uvalde, cutting off most routes out. The normally dry Leona River filled streets, trapping residents.
Residents Say They Were Better Prepared
Josiah Rodriguez of Kerrville awoke to heavy rain around 2 a.m. Thursday and navigated flooded roads to help evacuate relatives. “Last year there was no warning of it,” he said. “It just kind of happened overnight and it took everyone by surprise. This year, a lot more alerts have gone into place, a lot more safety measures.”
Last year, local leaders faced criticism for not acting quickly enough. This week, multiple counties near the Mexico border and in the Hill Country were under flood watches, with roughly 6 million Texans affected. Rescue helicopters were sent from as far as Travis County, home to Austin.
Animal Rescue and RV Parks Hit Hard
At the Buck Wild Animal Rescue near Ingram, Katie Buck evacuated several dozen animals to higher ground as Lazy Creek overflowed. All animals survived, but flooding destroyed enclosures. “We were just starting to get back on our feet again,” Buck said. “To have to go through this again is just devastating.”
At the Comfort RV Resort, manager Duke Earwood watched water rise over vehicle hoods, matching last July's flood levels. “Too familiar for sure, and too soon,” he said.
Uvalde Residents Trapped by Floodwaters
Carmen Rodriguez watched nervously from her Uvalde neighborhood as water engulfed the area and a helicopter roared overhead. “People really can’t get anywhere,” she said. “We have a place to go, but all the streets are closed.” She noted that authorities seemed more prepared this time, ordering mandatory evacuations and notifying residents directly.
Casy Sanford and her family were evacuated by boat from their Uvalde home Thursday morning. Her 8-year-old daughter was terrified, clutching her hand tightly. Sanford described leaving most of their belongings behind as water seeped into the ground floor of the only home her children have known.
The flooding comes amid broader political and economic pressures in Texas, including debates over data center development and the state's role in national trade disputes, such as the Toyota Tacoma shift from Texas to Mexico. But for now, the focus remains on rescue and recovery in a region that has endured two catastrophic floods in as many years.
