KERR COUNTY, Texas (BN24) — Flash flooding triggered by torrential overnight rainfall in central Texas has left multiple people dead and forced dozens of rescues as fast-moving water inundated riverfront communities, camps and wildlife habitats along the Guadalupe River.
Officials said as much as 10 inches of rain fell within a few hours in parts of Kerr County, causing the river to surge more than 22 feet in two hours near the small community of Hunt. The catastrophic flooding swept away vehicles and caught residents and campers off guard, complicating efforts to identify victims and account for those still missing.
Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, confirmed fatalities but declined to provide specific numbers, citing the ongoing emergency response and the need to notify families.
“Most of them, we don’t know who they are,” Kelly said during a news conference. “One of them was completely naked, he didn’t have any ID on him at all. We’re trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don’t have it yet.”
Emergency crews carried out dozens of rescues overnight and into Friday, with Texas Game Wardens deploying additional boats to reach people stranded in flooded campgrounds and riverfront cabins. Officials said an unknown number remained unaccounted for as search efforts continued.
Meteorologist Bob Fogarty with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office said the Guadalupe’s river gauge failed after recording a height of 29.5 feet — more than 20 feet above flood stage.
“We think the river’s higher than that,” Fogarty said. “The gauge is completely underwater.”
A flood watch initially issued Thursday escalated into a warning overnight, affecting at least 30,000 residents across Kerrville, Ingram and Hunt. Judge Kelly defended the local response when pressed by reporters about the lack of earlier evacuations.
“We do not have a warning system,” he said. “We didn’t know this flood was coming. We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state was deploying additional resources to assist with rescues and damage assessments.
“I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas,” Abbott said.
Residents described harrowing scenes as water rose swiftly in the darkness. Some camps and wildlife facilities were evacuated before dawn, while others reported people clinging to trees or rooftops awaiting rescue.
“This is the kind of thing that will catch you unaware,” Fogarty said. “The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you.”
As Texas reeled from flooding, violent thunderstorms in central New Jersey claimed at least three lives. In Plainfield, two men ages 79 and 25 died when a tree fell onto their vehicle during the height of the storm, city officials said.
“Our hearts are heavy today,” Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said in a statement. “This tragedy is a sobering reminder of the power of nature and the fragility of life.”
The city canceled its planned July Fourth celebrations, with Mapp calling for residents to focus on recovery after the storm left widespread damage and lingering power outages across the region.
Parts of southern New England also experienced large hail, downed trees, and dangerous road conditions, including reports of cars sliding off highways in northeastern Connecticut.
AP
