Death Toll Rises in Texas Floods as Authorities Piece Together What Went Wrong
"I need to tell my community and those families who are waiting, this will be a rough week. Primary search continues, and we remain hopeful — every foot, every mile, every bend of the river," said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr.
Kerr County saw 75 people dead, 27 of those being children. Many children were from an all-girls private summer camp near the Guadalupe River, Camp Mystic. As of Monday, 10 campers are still missing, along with one camp counselor.
In a statement on its website, Camp Mystic officials wrote, "Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly."
Travis, Burnet, Tom Green, Kendall and Williamson Counties reported at least 20 people dead after the storms. The catastrophic flash flooding in central Texas matches only that of the deadly flooding after Hurricane Helene. These are the two deadliest U.S. disasters driven by rainfall since 1976.
'Hearing the screams because you couldn't see anything, it was pitch black, but hearing people's screams, kids screaming, asking for help, cars were floating away with the lights on. You could see the lights and you can hear honking. And there was like not one or two, but there were dozens of vehicles just floating away and I was just, it was just too much," said Lorena Guillen, the owner of a local restaurant.
Death Toll Rises in Texas Floods as Authorities Piece Together What Went Wrong first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 8, 2025
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How to protect yourself in dangerous floods: Weather alerts, maps and more
Deadly flooding in Texas, combined with the recent trauma from fatal Hurricane Helene flooding in East Tennessee, has prompted questions about warning signs during hazardous weather. The Texas flooding has left over 100 people dead and many more missing. The September flooding from Helene resulted in the deaths of 250 people across the South. In East Tennessee, 18 people died in the floods caused by Helene. Flash floods are the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States, the National Weather Service says. Ahead of the arrival of severe weather and resulting floods, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself and your family. Your phone should receive wireless emergency alerts, which are emergency messages sent by local, state and federal public safety agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Weather Service. You don't have to sign up for the Wireless Emergency Alert service as they are automatically sent. To know if you receive emergency alerts, check with your wireless carrier. Another way to stay informed is to follow your county's emergency management agency on social media, where they regularly post information about hazardous conditions. For Knoxville and Knox County, follow the Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency Facebook page for regular updates. The National Weather Service provides 24/7 coverage and updates on hazards affecting all 50 states, as well as regular weather updates at The East Tennessee office is in Morristown. Experts often recommend buying a special weather radio, which is designed to receive certain emergency messages. They're available at a variety of online retailers and cost anywhere from $25 to over $100. If you're curious about water levels along a specific body of water, check the National Water Prediction Service at It shows anticipated water levels nationwide, including in East Tennessee. The Tennessee Valley Authority advises that if you live in a flood-prone area, you should check your local news and weather channels for the latest information. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has flood maps on which you can simply input your address in the search bar. Check it at Part of TVA's mission is to prevent flooding in the Southeast. It manages the 652-mile Tennessee River with nine dams. But its work has limitations. Water systems that TVA does not control, such as creeks and streams, are the ones most likely to flood, TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks said. You can find a map of each facility and its controlled water systems on the TVA website at Click on the water body nearest you to learn more. During Hurricane Helene, stretches of rivers that did not have dams were hit the hardest, such as the French Broad, Nolichucky and Pigeon rivers. ArcGIS, a geographic information system, shows regions of East Tennessee and their flood potential. Some areas have higher chances of flooding than others, such as: Boone Lake and South Fork Holston River near Johnson City Douglas Lake near the Great Smoky Mountains Hord Creek-Holston River and Bradley Creek-Holston River near Kingsport Painter Spring Branch-South Fork Holston River in Sullivan County Richland Creek-Nolichucky River in Greene County Knox County does not have outdoor weather sirens, nor did the communities in central Texas where the deadly flooding occurred in early July. Emergency management experts have advocated adding sirens for riverfronts that are known for flash floods. The question of whether sirens are an effective way to raise the alarm for floods and other natural disasters is nuanced. 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