The National Park Service and local rescue agencies were searching for the visitors after evacuating dozens by Sunday, including several who were rescued by helicopter from a remote section of the park that is inaccessible by vehicle. The ramped-up search efforts come as authorities braced for another round of potentially ruinous climate conditions, officials said.

The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered from Crystal Rapidson the Colorado River, the park service said Sunday evening. Officials have not released his name.

It was not immediately clear when the second body was found. That victim’s details were not released.

About 7 million people were under a flood watch Monday, covering a massive swath of the Southwest from southern Arizona to northern Colorado. The area at risk includes the Grand Canyon and stretches west into Utah, according to current weather projections.

The most severe threat of flooding was in an area just north of the Grand Canyon.

Phantom Ranch, a historic lodge at the bottom of Grand Canyon National Park, and a nearby trail were considered primary danger zones after the flooding.

Park service officials said that all footbridges along Bright Angel Creek were destroyed in the major flooding event that began Saturday, eliminating all crossings for hikers. Campsites and hiking paths in the vicinity were closed until further notice.

Images show rivers of muddy water barreling through lowlands, carrying cabins away from campsites, along with branches and other debris.

Evacuated visitors were still reeling from the experience.

David Gregory told NBC News that he crossed a footbridge to safety from Phantom Ranch before the structure was wrecked by the flooding. He was then airlifted out of the area.

“It was kind of crazy hearing after that the bridge that we crossed was wiped out, kind of makes you think that maybe we should have been in more of a panic,” he said after he was taken to safety with about 50 others.

Another video showed a male visitor on a footbridge marveling at the natural disaster under his feet.

“We’re cooked!” the man said.

The park service was asking for the public’s assistance in identifying anyone who may have been traveling through the affected area.

“My heart is with the families and loved ones of every person unaccounted for after the flash flooding at the Grand Canyon,” Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs wrote on X.

Hobbs said that the state Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and Coconino County Emergency Management were assisting the park service in its search.

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At least one person had died and more than a dozen people are missing as authorities continue the search for hikers and campers after water overwhelmed parts of the park. David Gregory was visiting the park’s Phantom Ranch with a friend and their two teenage sons when a park ranger ordered evacuations due to heavy rain.

Natural Disasters Aug 30

At least 1 dead, more than a dozen missing at Grand Canyon after extreme flash flooding

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About 60 people were staying at the ranch, Gregory said.

“The side creeks were just pouring out black water into the main Colorado River,” Gregory said. “And, there was also a lot of debris from the construction sites. They looked like little cabins, water coolers, all kinds of crazy stuff. And, when it was going into the Colorado River, it would look like a mini whirlpool because it was all spinning around, tons of tree branches. I mean, the Colorado River did not look at all inviting for sure.”

The experienced hiker said he has visited the Grand Canyon nearly a dozen times, but never witnessed this type of flooding.

“Relieved for sure, I’m thankful we made it out,” Gregory said.

The ranch and nearby areas were closed until further notice. Water also swept away bridge and damaged park facilities.

Gregory said the fast-moving water carrying debris downstream left campers in a desperate situation with just minutes to act.

“If that bridge had been taken out with the people on it, I think there would have been fatalities for sure,” Gregory said.

The National Park Service is asking for information about anyone who may have been hiking or backpacking along Bright Angel Creek in Arizona, as well as campers with plans to stay at Phantom Ranch or the Bright Angel Campground. Officials are also trying to track down travelers who might have been stranded along the North Kaibab Trail.

The National Park Service said in an evening update that a 46-year-old man was recovered from Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River. The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office was at the scene, the NPS said.

Authorities in Texas have rescued dozens of stranded drivers and people trapped in homes and at least two people have died due to catastrophic flooding.

The National Weather Service says a “deadly flood wave” is barreling down the Guadalupe River that runs alongside Camp Mystic, where two dozen children and two counselors were killed in flooding last July. Rivers are rising hour by hour, turning them into fast-moving seas of white water.

The governor said Thursday afternoon that river crests were expected to be near or at record-breaking levels and that the flow rate of the Nueces River was expected to be two times that of Niagara Falls.

Nim Kidd, the Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said another 15 inches of rain is expected overnight and more flooding is expected. Even after the rain stops, the rivers will continue to rise for several hours.

Abbott has issued disaster declarations for dozens of counties.

According to the NWS, river gauges showed an extremely rapid rise in water levels early Thursday. At Center Point, the Guadalupe River rose 32 feet in four hours, while gauges at Comfort recorded a 16-foot rise in just 30 minutes and a 22-foot rise within 50 minutes.

Forecasters with the NWS said in their alert that the flood wave is expected to reach levels similar to those of the catastrophic July 4, 2025, Guadalupe River flood in some areas, and warned that flash flooding was occurring across the area.

Flash flood emergencies, including a Flash Flood Warning, are expected to last until at least 3 p.m. in the Guadalupe River basin. Communities expected to experience flash flooding include Kerrville, Comfort, Waring, Sisterdale, Center Point and Crown. The NWS is asking people in the area to seek higher ground. Officials warned of life-threatening flooding impacting low-water crossings, streams, creeks, roads, highways, underpasses and urban areas. Residents were urged not to attempt travel unless evacuating from a flood-prone area or under an evacuation order.

Numerous waterways in the region are also being affected, including the Guadalupe River, Sabinas Creek, Cypress Creek, Turtle Creek, Cherry Creek, Verde Creek, Joshua Creek and several other creeks and drainages throughout Kerr and Kendall counties. Campers, hikers and anyone near waterways are being urged to move to safer locations immediately.

At least 2 people have died as Texas flooding forces evacuations and high-water rescues, Abbott says

At least two people have been killed in the catastrophic flooding sweeping across the Texas Hill Country, Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday.

The victims include a man who was swept away in his RV near Comfort and another man who was swept away while driving near Uvalde. Their identities have not been released.

Drones and helicopters are flying over the region, the governor said Thursday morning.

“Our number one focus is saving lives,” Abbott said.

Rescuers have been plucking stranded drivers and people trapped in homes since floodwaters began rising quickly overnight Thursday.

Louisiana’s Cajun Navy deploys to the Texas Hill Country to aid in the rescue effort

The Cajun Navy 2016 said it has deployed a team of specially trained volunteers to Kerr County to assist local officials with swiftwater rescue and recovery operations.

The nonprofit group said they have sent two crews of two to assist in rescuing people and animals.

“Our hearts are with the families and communities affected by this disaster,” said Jon Bridgers Sr., founder of Cajun Navy 2016. “When people are facing their darkest moments, our mission is simple: show up, help where we’re needed, and stand alongside first responders and local officials until the job is done.”

Teams are equipped to conduct rescues in fast-moving floodwaters, search affected areas, and assist with recovery operations as requested by local authorities.

The group said they were waiting to see if they needed to send additional boats.

Texas flooding forces evacuations and high-water rescues, Abbott says

Rescuers in boats and helicopters saved dozens of stranded drivers and people trapped in homes from catastrophic flooding that hit parts of Texas overnight, while many more fled to higher ground Thursday in a region still reeling from devastating floods a year ago.

At least one person has died, Gov. Greg Abbott said, adding that it appeared many of the summer camps hit hard last year were not in danger. “Our number one focus is saving lives,” he said.

After days of pounding rain, the National Weather Service said a “large and deadly flood wave” barreled down the same river wrecked by flash floods last summer when two dozen children and counselors were killed at Camp Mystic.

Forecasters urgently warned, “Move to higher ground now!” as rivers rose hour by hour under the cloak of darkness, turning them into fast-moving seas of white water. Some spots of the Guadalupe River rose by more than 30 feet.

The governor said there was “one loss of life” and that crews had rescued well over 70 people. Kerr County reported one dead.

Hill Country residents say they were better prepared for floods

The unfolding crisis brought back haunting memories of last summer’s unimaginable Hill Country floods that killed more than 100 people over the July Fourth holiday.

“It’s crazy happening two times in one year,” said Josiah Rodriguez, who woke to the sound of heavy rain around 2 a.m. Thursday in Kerrville. He 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.”

Residents said they were caught off guard a year ago and didn’t receive any warning when the floods overtopped the Guadalupe. Some local leaders were criticized for not acting quickly.

The storms and flooding this time threatened multiple counties close to the Mexico border and in the Hill Country near San Antonio. As of late Wednesday, six million residents across Texas were under a flood watch, and some were expected to remain in effect through Friday evening.

Several agencies sent rescue helicopters to the flood zone, including Travis County in the state capital of Austin.

“My understanding is people were mostly trapped in trees and on rooftops,” said Travis County Judge Andy Brown, who said one caller warned 10 people were trapped on a barn roof.

Residents rush animals and campers to higher ground

At a wild animal rescue, Katie Buck evacuated several dozen animals to higher ground in the dark early Thursday as the normally dry Lazy Creek overflowed. She had to quickly grab a porcupine without gloves.

She managed to get all the animals to safety, but flooding destroyed several enclosures at the Buck Wild Animal Rescue and Wildlife Rehab near Ingram, which was also hit hard 12 months ago.

“We were just starting to get back on our feet again,” Buck said. “To have to go through this again is just devastating.”

Residents at an RV park in Comfort moved their trailers as sirens sounded, said manager Duke Earwood.

Water rose over the hoods of vehicles parked near the river at the Comfort RV Resort, which has about 200 residents. Markers showed the flooding already matched last July’s big flood.

“Too familiar for sure, and too soon,” Earwood said.

Uvalde residents isolated by floodwaters

Floodwaters overran the city of Uvalde overnight, cutting off access from the outside. The Leona River, normally dry for most of the year, flooded streets.

“People really can’t get anywhere,” said Carmen Rodriguez, who was nervously watching water engulf her neighborhood Thursday morning as a helicopter roared overhead. “We have a place to go, but all the streets are closed.”

Phones buzzed with warnings throughout the night about flash floods in the morning. Rodriguez said it seemed that authorities were well prepared. By Wednesday, Uvalde police had ordered some mandatory evacuations, with first responders notifying people directly.

Uvalde officials sent out rescue boats and found multiple people trapped in vehicles overnight, said Juli Alvarado, a spokesperson for Uvalde police.

“There’s no way into the city at this point,” she said.

Texas Game Wardens rescued more than 40 people and evacuated about a dozen others, mostly in the Uvalde County area, according to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department spokesperson.

Flooding could reach last year’s deadly high

While heavily swollen from rainfall, the Guadalupe has so far remained below the record levels reached during last year’s deadly floods.

Gauges showed it rose by more than 30 feet in some spots in just hours overnight. One near Kerrville showed the river rose 32 feet in four hours.

Close to Camp Mystic, which remains shut, the Guadalupe River near Hunt reached about 20.5 feet, enough to cause flooding but still far below the record set last year, according to U.S. Geological Survey and National Water Prediction Service data.

In Kerr County, where summer camps dot the shores of the Guadalupe, the sheriff’s office said all campers were safe. Several camps said their campers were staying inside, with one camp reporting normal flooding.

Towns still rebuilding are hit by new floods

Volunteer firefighters spent the night evacuating homes and answering frantic calls in Ingram, just upriver from Hunt, said Ingram Mayor Claud Jordan.

While the water didn’t rise as high as it did a year ago, he believes this round of flooding was more widespread in his city. “The rural part of Ingram, all the roads are just trashed,” he said.

“There are a bunch of businesses that haven’t reopened from last year,” Jordan said. “This doesn’t help.”

The Texas Hill Country is especially prone to flash floods because the area’s signature limestone is covered by just a thin layer of soil. During heavy rains, water can quickly shoot downhill before quickly filling the narrow river basins.

The weather service said 10 to 20 inches of rain had fallen in the past two days, with eight inches in just two hours early Thursday.

A rush to higher ground

Residents at an RV park in Comfort, Texas, near the Guadalupe River, moved their trailers as local fire department sirens sounded, manager Duke Earwood said Thursday.

Water rose over the hoods of vehicles parked closest to the river.

While the water started to recede, another surge was expected, Earwood said at the Comfort RV Resort, which has about 200 residents. “People need to know to just kind of stay put for now,” he said.

Markers showed that the flooding had already reached the level of the big flood last July.

“Too familiar for sure, and too soon,” Earwood said.

Another test for the Texas Hill Country after the Camp Mystic disaster

The Texas Hill Country is especially prone to flash floods because the area’s signature limestone is covered by just a thin layer of soil. During heavy rains, water can quickly shoot downhill before quickly filling the narrow river basins.

The weather service said 10 to 20 inches of rain had fallen in the past two days, with 8 inches in just two hours early Thursday.

The deluge dumped nearly a foot of rain in some counties and put people in multiple counties under flood watches, which were expected to remain in effect through Friday evening.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued disaster declarations for dozens of counties. As of late Wednesday, six million residents in 57 counties were under a National Weather Service flood watch.

Summer camps reporting no issues

NBC News has reached out to multiple Texas Hill Country camps. So far, the following camps are not reporting issues as of 6:30 a.m.

• Camp Waldemar
• Camp Honey Creek for Girls
• Camps Rio Vista & Sierra Vista
• Kickapoo Kamp for Girls
• Camp Stewart
• Mo Ranch
• Texas Lions Camp

Central Texas Flood Jun 24

Camp Mystic files for bankruptcy after catastrophic floods killed 28 people

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Parents of Camp Mystic flooding victims open up in emotional TODAY interview

Stengle reported from Dallas. Associated Press writers Christopher L. Keller in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Michael Phillis in Washington; Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed.

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Camp Mystic has been under increasing pressure since the July 4 disaster. Owners had planned to reopen the Texas Hill Country camp this summer for its 100th anniversary, but reversed course in April amid outrage from victims’ families and lawmakers. Victims’ families filed lawsuits accusing the camp of failing to protect the girls as the powerful floodwaters approached.

Camp Mystic’s owner, Richard Eastland, also died in the flood.

Dallas bankruptcy attorney Sid Scheinberg is not associated with the case but said it’s an understandable move.

“It’s a reorganization plan,” Scheinberg said. “It’s a chance for them to put all their debt together and work at something to continue operating.”

The camp listed its debt at more than $10 million, according to the filing made in federal bankruptcy court in Houston. An attorney for Camp Mystic has not responded to an email and a phone message seeking comment.

In response to the bankruptcy filing, Carrie Hanna, who lost her daughter Hadley in the flood, said in a statement, “Right now we are focused on honoring and remembering Hadley and our girls as we approach the year-anniversary of their tragic deaths.”

According to a statement from Brad Beckworth, Christina Yarnell, and Blair Townsend, attorneys for Cile Steward’s family, “Filing for bankruptcy is another delay and avoidance tactic that has only compounded the grief of the Heaven’s 27 families. The timing, just before the one-year anniversary, is a despicable gut punch to families already bracing to grieve their daughters under a canopy of Fourth of July fireworks. The Eastlands are clearly trying to avoid a jury trial. They also know they are facing severe sanctions from the trial court as a result of their targeted campaign designed to villainize the Steward family.”

Steward, 8, was in Camp Mystic’s custody and care; her body has not been recovered.

“Bankruptcy will not stop all responsible parties from being held accountable,” Paul Yetter, a lawyer who represents multiple families of campers and counselors who died at Camp Mystic, said in a statement. “These innocent girls deserve justice.”

Scheinberg said there is still a possibility of legal action during a bankruptcy.

“Then the bankruptcy court can either elect to allow that state court lawsuit to continue or move it over to the bankruptcy Court to try the actual lawsuit or ultimately they try and work settlements with all the various people that have losses,” Scheinberg said.

For decades, Camp Mystic was a summer staple and an institution for generations of families, who dropped off their girls at the sleepaway camp to ride horses, canoe, fish and attend Bible studies. Other summer camps in Kerr County, west of Austin, did not take on such devastating flooding and, in some cases, have reopened.

All told, the destructive flooding killed at least 136 people along a several-mile stretch of the river, raising questions about how things went so terribly wrong.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Eastland family spent months determined to reopen the camp this summer, pointing to enhanced safety measures that included flood-warning river monitors and two-way radios equipped with national weather alerts in every cabin.

By the spring, Camp Mystic’s attorney said it was ready to reopen for business for nearly 900 campers.

But assurances of safety did not convince victims’ families and some Texas lawmakers. State regulators found nearly two dozen deficiencies in the emergency operations plan submitted by the owners, including deficiencies in proposals for flood-warning evacuations and safety training.

According to a statement from attorneys for the Steward family, the camp “failed to prepare for the storm, failed to evacuate despite repeated opportunities, and left families to face chaos in the hours and days after the flood. In the last year, Camp Mystic and the Eastland family who have raced from one thing to the next—reopening, renovations, and destruction of evidence, licensing, motions attempting to push the legal cases out of public view and behind closed doors.”

The decision not to reopen followed weeks of testimony in court hearings and legislative investigations that laid bare the camp’s lack of detailed planning for a flood emergency and its reliance on poorly trained staff.

Families of the victims packed the hearings, some wearing “Heaven’s 27” pins with photographs of their daughters. They listened to the details of missed flood-warning signs, the descriptions of the flood, and the decision to leave the girls in their cabins until it was too late. Testimony included a video of the raging floodwaters as a girl repeatedly screamed “help!” somewhere in the distance.

Before halting the reopening plans, Camp Mystic invited journalists and lawmakers to review safety improvements at the camp and promised that no camp activities would take place in the low-lying area that was devastated by the flood. The Eastland family also stressed that hundreds of families wanted to return.

Camp Mystic on ‘Dateline’ Friday night

This Friday on Dateline, Lester Holt reports on the tragedy at Camp Mystic. The special features exclusive interviews with those who lost children and survivors of that fateful night. The special will also highlight the latest developments in the investigation. Dateline’s all-new 1-hour episode, “After the Flood,” airs Friday at 9 p.m on NBC 5.

Camp Mystic

Central Texas Flood Apr 30

Camp Mystic halts summer reopening plan following outrage by families

There have been no reports of fatalities, but local authorities and first responders stressed the potentially lethal nature of the record-breaking flooding. Warnings remain in place for some parts of the state until Saturday morning.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said the Skagit River was expected to crest Friday morning, making the period through Friday night critical for residents and first responders.

On Friday afternoon, Ferguson said in a statement that he issued an emergency declaration with the approval of President Donald Trump.

“I just received a phone call from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Secretary Noem informed me that the president signed our request for an emergency declaration. We have also received written confirmation of that emergency declaration,” he said. “I expressed my thanks to Secretary Noem on behalf of the people of the State of Washington during this extremely challenging time.”

He added that tens of thousands of Washingtonians could face orders or warnings on Friday as the flooding moves into more densely populated areas. As of Friday morning, 5 million people remain under flood watches across western Washington, according to an NBC News analysis.

The National Weather Service said the Skagit reached 37.7 feet overnight and will cause severe or record flooding in the critical agricultural region from Sedro-Woolley to Mount Vernon. The threshold for a flood event is 28 feet.

As of Friday morning, the Skagit’s water level started to slowly drop, according to an analysis by NBC News.

In addition to the Skagit River at Mount Vernon, several other rivers saw record crests, according to an NBC News analysis, including at the Snohomish River in Snohomish, the Cedar River in Renton, the Nooksack River in North Cedarville and the Grays River in Rosburg.

While drier weather is on the way, “the major to catastrophic flooding effects are likely to continue for several days across portions of western Washington State and northwestern Oregon,” the weather service said.

About 100,000 people living in the 100-year Skagit River flood plain were told to “leave now” in a county order Thursday. Ferguson said people have largely complied with the orders, but stressed that the danger remains and that more areas face flooding on Friday.

Near the Canadian border, the cities of Sumas, Nooksack and Everson were also evacuated. Sumas Mayor Bruce Bosch said much of the area had been “devastated,” with damage similar to that suffered in flooding four years ago. The full extent of the damage will only become clear when the water recedes, he said.

On Friday afternoon, local authorities issued evacuation orders for Burlington, Washington, a city roughly 50 miles south of the U.S.-Canadian border.

“ALL RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF BURLINGTON SHOULD EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY,” Skagit County wrote in a post on Facebook.

Officials added that the “National Guard is going door to door to notify residents and help evacuate.”

Helicopters rescued two families Thursday from the roofs of properties in Sumas that had been flooded by about 15 feet of water, Frank Cain Jr., battalion chief for Whatcom County Fire District 14, told The Associated Press. Two houses in nearby Welcome collapsed and were washed into the Nooksack River, he said.

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, which covers Sumas, said it would patrol to prevent lawlessness and warned would-be looters that they would be booked into the county jail.

The National Guard released an image of troops rescuing a person from the roof of a vehicle in Skagit County on Thursday, one of several water rescues across the region.

Ferguson told CNN on Thursday that he was concerned about reports that people were returning to their homes along the Skagit, perhaps emboldened by the rainfall stopping on Thursday.

“Our message is the river is literally going to reach historic levels on the Skagit River near towns like Burlington and Sedro-Woolley. As long as we’ve been recording the river, it’s never gone this high in those areas,” he said.

More than a foot of rain fell across parts of Washington state in the last 72 hours, the weather service said.

Central Pierce Fire & Rescue shared a video showing first responders in inflatable boats in Puyallup, along with a plea for motorists to avoid flooded areas: “Turn around, don’t drown.”

“Even 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock you off your feet and a depth of 2 feet will float your car. Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift water. If you come upon flood waters, stop, turn around and go another way,” the weather service said in a string of flood warnings.

Many arterial roads were blocked in the region, including large parts of State Route 40. A landslide blocked Interstate 90 east of Seattle.

The floods are a brutal blow to the region, which is still recovering from the heavy floods of 2021.

The Associated Press, Kathryn Prociv and Matt Lavietes contributed.

This week in Texas, estimates put the number of people still missing from the Hill Country floods at 161, a daunting figure on top of at least 96 deaths confirmed by authorities.

But that missing person tally might not be as precise as it seems.

Confusion and uncertainty can take hold after a shocking disaster and, despite best efforts by local authorities, it can be difficult to pin down how many people reported missing are actually unaccounted for. Some people on a list after California’s Camp Fire wildfire in 2018 were later found to be OK the whole time. The death count in the 2023 Maui fire was 102, far below the 1,100 people initially feared missing.

In Texas, more than 170 people were reported missing to officials in Kerr County after the Fourth of July floods, said Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Investigators whittled that number down to 161 by Wednesday after learning that some were counted twice and others were found alive.

“There’s nothing to celebrate about how well we’ve done this far, but there’s a lot of work to be done,” Martin said.

Authorities announced a phone number and email address for people to report missing friends or family.

“We need to keep an accurate count, as accurate as possible,” Jonathan Lamb of the Kerrville Police Department said in a plea to the public Wednesday. “So if you’ve reported somebody missing and they’ve been recovered safely, please let us know.”

The flooding sent walls of water through Hill Country in the middle of the night, killing at least 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a century-old all-girls Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River. More remain missing from that camp and elsewhere.

Camp Mystic

Central Texas Flood Jul 7, 2025

Camp Mystic, the haven on the Guadalupe River, has drawn campers for nearly a century

Central Texas Flood Jul 5, 2025

Families confirm six girls at Texas summer camp did not survive flash flooding

The search in 88-degree Fahrenheit heat has been made harder by overturned cars, trees, mud and other debris left in the wake of the ferocious flood.

“We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for,” Gov. Greg Abbott said. “Know this also: There very likely could be more added to that list.”

In 2017, more than 20 people died in the Tubbs fire in northern California. Sgt. Juan Valencia of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office recalled that most of the 100 people initially reported missing to his agency were found safe.

Working through a list of names in a disaster is both meticulous and time-consuming work, he said.

“Put yourself in a family member’s shoes,” Valencia said. “They’re concerned about their loved one. Are they really the victim of a disaster or did they maybe lose their cellphone? Basically you start calling temporary shelters, check family, friends. You check social media. That’s how we were able to get a lot of those.”

And he acknowledged that searching for victims of a water disaster poses distinct challenges.

“Sometimes you find them miles away,” Valencia said.

The 2018 Camp Fire in California ended up killing nearly 100 people, though the Butte County Sheriff’s Office had a list of 1,300 people unaccounted for at one point.

Abbott said Texas authorities were trying to learn more about people who were not registered at a camp or a hotel for the holiday and left no paper or digital trail in the region. He had a firm message for anyone contacting police about a missing person.

“If you make a prank call or provide false information, that’s a crime. … So you better be correct,” the governor said.

How to help with Central Texas flood relief

Join NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 in our efforts to help those whose lives have been upended by recent storms and record flooding, as well as countless other crises. You can help by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your financial donation helps provide shelter, meals, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance during disasters like the one in Texas. 

Click here to learn how to support disaster relief efforts and make a donation to the American Red Cross

In response to questions about what people can do to help the area recover from the deadly flood, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, a 501(c)(3) charity serving the Texas Hill Country, has established a relief fund to support vetted local response, relief and recovery efforts. Organizers said all donations go directly to organizations working on the front lines of the July 4 flooding emergency. All donations are tax-deductible, and you will receive a receipt for your gift. To learn more or donate, visit the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country here.

After torrential rains and flash flooding struck Friday in the Texas Hill Country, the weather service came under fire from local officials who criticized what they described as inadequate forecasts, though most in the Republican-controlled state stopped short of blaming Trump’s cuts. Democrats, meanwhile, wasted little time in linking the staff reductions to the disaster, which is being blamed for the deaths of at least 80 people, including more than two dozen girls and counselors attending a summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River.

The NWS office responsible for that region had five staffers on duty as thunderstorms formed over Texas Thursday evening, the usual number for an overnight shift when severe weather is expected. Current and former NWS officials defended the agency, pointing to urgent flash flood warnings issued in the pre-dawn hours before the river rose.

“This was an exceptional service to come out first with the catastrophic flash flood warning and this shows the awareness of the meteorologists on shift at the NWS office,” said Brian LaMarre, who retired at the end of April as the meteorologist-in-charge of the NWS forecast office in Tampa, Florida. ″There is always the challenge of pinpointing extreme values, however, the fact the catastrophic warning was issued first showed the level of urgency.”

Questions linger about level of coordination

Questions remain, however, about the level of coordination and communication between NWS and local officials on the night of the disaster. The Trump administration has cut hundreds of jobs at NWS, with staffing down by at least 20% at nearly half of the 122 NWS field offices nationally and at least a half dozen no longer staffed 24 hours a day. Hundreds more experienced forecasters and senior managers were encouraged to retire early.

The White House also has proposed slashing its parent agency’s budget by 27% and eliminating federal research centers focused on studying the world’s weather, climate and oceans.

The website for the NWS office for Austin/San Antonio, which covers the region that includes hard-hit Kerr County, shows six of 27 positions are listed as vacant. The vacancies include a key manager responsible for issuing warnings and coordinating with local emergency management officials. An online resume for the employee who last held the job showed he left in April after more than 17 years, shortly after mass emails sent to employees urging them to retire early or face potential layoffs.

Democrats on Monday pressed the Trump administration for details about the cuts. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded that the administration conduct an inquiry into whether staffing shortages contributed to “the catastrophic loss of life” in Texas.

CENTRAL TEXAS FLOOD

Central Texas Flood Jul 7, 2025

104 killed in tragic flood; search for 10 missing campers continues

Central Texas Flood Jul 6, 2025

National Weather Service shares timeline of alerts ahead of catastrophic Texas flooding

Meanwhile, Trump said the job eliminations did not hamper any weather forecasting. The raging waters, he said Sunday, were “a thing that happened in seconds. No one expected it. Nobody saw it.”

Former officials warn that job cuts could hamper future forecasts

Former federal officials and experts have said Trump’s indiscriminate job reductions at NWS and other weather-related agencies will result in brain drain that imperils the federal government’s ability to issue timely and accurate forecasts. Such predictions can save lives, particularly for those in the path of quick-moving storms.

“This situation is getting to the point where something could break,” said Louis Uccellini, a meteorologist who served as NWS director under three presidents, including during Trump’s first term. “The people are being tired out, working through the night and then being there during the day because the next shift is short staffed. Anything like that could create a situation in which important elements of forecasts and warnings are missed.”

After returning to office in January, Trump issued a series of executive orders empowering the Department of Government Efficiency, initially led by mega-billionaire Elon Musk, to enact sweeping staff reductions and cancel contracts at federal agencies, bypassing significant Congressional oversight.

Though Musk has now departed Washington and had a very public falling out with Trump, DOGE staffers he hired and the cuts he sought have largely remained, upending the lives of tens of thousands of federal employees.

Cuts resulted from Republican effort to privatize duties of weather agencies

The cuts follow a decade-long Republican effort to dismantle and privatize many of the duties of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the agency within the Commerce Department that includes the NWS. The reductions have come as Trump has handed top public posts to officials with ties to private companies that stand to profit from hobbling the taxpayer-funded system for predicting the weather.

Project 2025, the conservative governing blueprint that Trump distanced himself from during the 2024 campaign but that he has broadly moved to enact once in office, calls for dismantling NOAA and further commercializing the weather service.

Chronic staffing shortages have led a handful of offices to curtail the frequency of regional forecasts and weather balloon launches needed to collect atmospheric data. In April, the weather service abruptly ended translations of its forecasts and emergency alerts into languages other than English, including Spanish. The service was soon reinstated after public outcry.

NOAA’s main satellite operations center briefly appeared earlier this year on a list of surplus government real estate set to be sold. Trump’s proposed budget also seeks to shutter key facilities for tracking climate change. The proposed cuts include the observatory atop the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii that for decades has documented the steady rise in plant-warming carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere from burning fossil fuels.

On June 25, NOAA abruptly announced that the U.S. Department of Defense would no longer process or transmit data from three weather satellites experts said are crucial to accurately predicting the path and strength of hurricanes at sea.

“Removing data from the defense satellite is similar to removing another piece to the public safety puzzle for hurricane intensity forecasting,” said LaMarre, now a private consultant. ”The more pieces removed, the less clear the picture becomes which can reduce the quality of life-saving warnings.”

Trump officials say they didn’t fire meteorologists

At a pair of Congressional hearings last month, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called it “fake news” that the Trump administration had axed any meteorologists, despite detailed reporting from The Associated Press and other media organizations that chronicled the layoffs.

“We are fully staffed with forecasters and scientists,” Lutnick said June 4 before a Senate appropriations subcommittee. “Under no circumstances am I going to let public safety or public forecasting be touched.”

Despite a broad freeze on federal hiring directed by Trump, NOAA announced last month it would seek to fill more than 100 “mission-critical field positions,” as well as plug holes at some regional weather offices by reassigning staff. Those positions have not yet been publicly posted, though a NOAA spokesperson said Sunday they would be soon.

Asked by AP how the NWS could simultaneously be fully staffed and still advertise “mission critical positions” as open, Commerce spokesperson Kristen Eichamer said the “National Hurricane Center is fully staffed to meet this season’s demand, and any recruitment efforts are simply meant to deepen our talent pool.”

“The secretary is committed to providing Americans with the most accurate, up-to-date weather data by ensuring the National Weather Service is fully equipped with the personnel and technology it needs,” Eichamer said. “For the first time, we are integrating technology that’s more accurate and agile than ever before to achieve this goal, and with it the NWS is poised to deliver critical weather information to Americans.”

Uccellini and the four prior NWS directors who served under Democratic and Republican presidents criticized the Trump cuts in an open letter issued in May; they said the administration’s actions resulted in the departures of about 550 employees — an overall reduction of more than 10 percent.

“NWS staff will have an impossible task to continue its current level of services,” they wrote. “Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life. We know that’s a nightmare shared by those on the forecasting front lines – and by the people who depend on their efforts.”

NOAA’s budget for fiscal year 2024 was just under $6.4 billion, of which less than $1.4 billion went to NWS.

Experts worry about forecasts for hurricanes

While experts say it would be illegal for Trump to eliminate NOAA without Congressional approval, some former federal officials worry the cuts could result in a patchwork system where taxpayers finance the operation of satellites and collection of atmospheric data but are left to pay private services that would issue forecasts and severe weather warnings. That arrangement, critics say, could lead to delays or missed emergency alerts that, in turn, could result in avoidable deaths.

D. James Baker, who served as NOAA’s administrator during the Clinton administration, questioned whether private forecasting companies would provide the public with services that don’t generate profits.

“Would they be interested in serving small communities in Maine, let’s say?” Baker asked. “Is there a business model that gets data to all citizens that need it? Will companies take on legal risks, share information with disaster management agencies, be held accountable as government agencies are? Simply cutting NOAA without identifying how the forecasts will continue to be provided is dangerous.”

Though the National Hurricane Center in Miami has been largely spared staff reductions like those at regional NWS offices, some professionals who depend on federal forecasts and data greeted the June start of the tropical weather season with profound worry.

In an unusual broadcast on June 3, longtime South Florida TV meteorologist John Morales warned his viewers that the Trump administration cuts meant he might not be able to provide as accurate forecasts for hurricanes as he had in years past. He cited staffing shortfalls of between 20% and 40% at NWS offices from Tampa to Key West and urged his NBC 6 audience in greater Miami to call their congressional representatives.

“What we are starting to see is that the quality of the forecasts is becoming degraded,” Morales said. “And we may not know exactly how strong a hurricane is before it reaches the coastline.”

Before dawn on July 4, heavy tropical rain over Central Texas filled the Guadalupe River, which rose 26 feet in about 45 minutes. In the darkness, the wall of fast-moving water then indiscriminately swept people, homes, vehicles and trees downstream.

One of the areas hit was Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp southwest of Hunt along the Guadalupe River, where 27 people were reported missing after the flood. Officials confirmed Tuesday they were still looking for five children and a counselor missing from the camp.

Messages from the families, sharing memories of their daughters, are below.

Camp Mystic flooding victims

Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence
The family of 8-year-old twins Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence confirms they were among the children killed in flooding at Camp Mystic. Their parents, Lacy and John Lawrence of Dallas, said the girls had just finished second grade at University Park Elementary School.

“Hanna and Rebecca brought so much joy to us, to their big sister Harper, and to so many others,” the family said in a statement. “We will find ways to keep that joy and to continue to spread it for them. But we are devastated that the bond we shared with them, and that they shared with each other, is now frozen in time.”

David Lawrence, the girls’ grandfather and former publisher of the Miami Herald, said, “It has been an unimaginable time for all of us.”

The twins’ 14-year-old sister, Harper, survived the flooding at Camp Mystic.

The family shared memories of the girls’ personalities in an obituary, adding that Hanna dreamed of opening a restaurant to feed people in need and Rebecca wanted to be a teacher. They also shared details on a charitable fund set up in the twins’ memory.

Hadley Hanna
The family of 8-year-old Hadley Hanna confirmed she was among those killed in flooding at Camp Mystic.

While asking for privacy to grieve, the family released a statement through a spokesperson on Monday, thanking people for the outpouring of support and empathy:

“Our families are experiencing unimaginable grief. We are reaching out with a heartfelt request for privacy and compassion. While we are deeply moved by the outpouring of support from neighbors, first responders, and volunteers, we ask that the media, the public, and even well-meaning individuals honor our need for space and quiet during this time. The constant spotlight and inquiries – however well-intended – add to our distress. We appreciate your empathy, your prayers, and understanding.”

In an obituary, Hadley’s family said she never met a stranger and loved to make people laugh. They have started a fund to continue her legacy.

Janie Hunt
The mother of Dallas victim Janie Hunt confirmed her daughter was also among the girls who died in the flooding at Camp Mystic.

“We are just devastated,” Janie’s mother told NBC 5.

Hunt attended Hyer Elementary and was described by friends and loved ones as “beautiful, precocious and energetic.” She is the cousin of Clark Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Her family says she dreamed of being an artist when she grew up. A giving fund has been set up in her honor, with proceeds going to Hyer Elementary and The Day School and Highland Park Presbyterian.

Eloise Peck
The family of Eloise Peck of Dallas confirmed Saturday night that she had been found dead.

The family released a statement that said in part: “It is with a heavy heart that I let you know that Eloise Peck has been found and is now an angel.”

Lila Bonner
The family of Lila Bonner, of Dallas, confirmed her death to NBC 5 by phone. Bonner is from Dallas and attended Bradfield Elementary School in the Highland Park ISD.

The family shared the following statement: “The family of Lila James Bonner is heartbroken to confirm the news of her loss. In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time. We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly for others to be spared from this tragic loss.”

Dallas families gathered at Bradfield Elementary on Sunday to place ribbons throughout the neighborhood for both Lila Bonner and Eloise Peck.

The family is in the process of setting up her foundation, Lila’s Light, to help animals affected by natural disasters.

“Lila was a natural born leader who loved all creatures, big and small. Her confidence and determination left no doubt she would one day fulfill her dream of opening and operating an animal rescue,” Lila’s family said in a statement. “While Lila’s life was tragically cut short, her legacy and story will not end there. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support for our beautiful and precious girl and look forward to honoring her love for animals by creating a foundation.”

Donations to the foundation can be made at: Lila’s Light: Honoring Lila Bonner

The mother of Renee Smajstrla, who lives in Kerr County, told NBC 5 that her daughter was initially among those reported missing and that she was later confirmed to have died in the flooding. She said Renee shared a cabin with Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner, both of Dallas.

Wynne Naylor
The family of Wynne Naylor told NBC 5 on Friday that their daughter was among the more than two dozen girls missing from Camp Mystic. On Tuesday, her family shared the following statement with NBC 5 about their daughter:

It is with enormous sadness and heavy hearts that the Naylor family confirms the passing of their beloved daughter, Virginia Wynne Naylor, on July 4, 2025.

There are no words to express our gratitude to everyone who supported Wynne and our entire family through this time. Wynne has a great love of the outdoors, a love of God, and love for her community. To honor Wynne’s life and ensure her legacy continues, the family has set up “More Like Wynne.”

Donations to the fund can be made at: dallasfoundation.org/more-like-wynne

If you remove the grief, the stress, the tears of despair and the cries of horror from the days since this tragedy began, you will find how God intends for us to live. Replace grief with hope. Replace stress with servitude. Replace tears of despair with joyful recollection. Replace cries of horror with terms of endearment. This is how our girls danced through this world. This is how they will be remembered. This is how God intends we live.

The Naylor Family is grateful to be surrounded by their loving family and friends and asks that representatives of the media respect their privacy during this difficult time. Thank you for your prayers and concern.

If the families decide to make funeral arrangements public or share any further information, we’ll include that information in this report.

How to help with Central Texas flood relief

Join NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 in our efforts to help those whose lives have been upended by recent storms and record flooding, as well as countless other crises. You can help by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your financial donation helps provide shelter, meals, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance during disasters like the one in Texas. 

Click here to learn how to support disaster relief efforts and make a donation to the American Red Cross

In response to questions about what people can do to help the area recover from the deadly flood, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, a 501(c)(3) charity serving the Texas Hill Country, has established a relief fund to support vetted local response, relief and recovery efforts. Organizers said all donations go directly to organizations working on the front lines of the July 4 flooding emergency. All donations are tax-deductible, and you will receive a receipt for your gift. To learn more or donate, visit the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country here.

Central Texas Flood

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The destructive fast-moving waters along the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes before dawn Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as more heavy rains were expected Saturday and flash flood warnings and flood watches remained in effect for parts of central Texas.

Searchers used helicopters and drones to look for victims and rescue people stranded. The total number of missing was not known but one sheriff said about 24 of them were girls who had been attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river.

Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information.

“The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers at Camp Mystic. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”

A raging storm woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with floodwaters whipping around their legs, she said.

At a news conference late Friday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said 24 people were confirmed dead. Authorities said about 240 people had been rescued.

The flooding in the middle of the night on the Fourth of July holiday caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise. Officials defended their preparations for severe weather and their response but said they had not expected such an intense downpour that was, in effect, the equivalent of months’ worth of rain for the area.

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One National Weather Service forecast this week had called for only between three and six inches (76 to 152 millimeters) of rain, said Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

“It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.

Helicopters, drones used in frantic search for missing

One river gauge near Camp Mystic recorded a 22 foot rise (6.7 meters) in about two hours, said Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. The gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet (9 meters).

“The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you,” Fogarty said.

On the Kerr County sheriff’s office Facebook page, people posted pictures of loved ones and begged for help finding them.

At least 400 people were on the ground helping in the response, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said. Rescue teams, helicopters and drones were being used, with some people being rescued from trees.

‘Pitch black wall of death’

In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home directly across from the river, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree and waiting for the water to recede enough to walk up the hill to a neighbor’s home.

“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said.

Of her 19-year-old son, Burgess said: “Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him.”

Matthew Stone, 44, of Kerrville, said police came knocking on doors but that he had received no warning on his phone.

“We got no emergency alert. There was nothing,” Stone said. Then “a pitch black wall of death.”

‘I was scared to death’

At a reunification center set up in Ingram, families cried and cheered as loved ones got off vehicles loaded with evacuees. Two soldiers carried an older woman who could not get down a ladder. Behind her, a woman clutched a small white dog.

Later, a girl in a white “Camp Mystic” T-shirt and white socks stood in a puddle, sobbing in her mother’s arms.

Barry Adelman, 54, said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson. The water started coming through the attic floor before finally receding.

“I was horrified,” he said. “I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death.”

‘No one knew this kind of flood was coming’

The forecast had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight for at least 30,000 people.

The lieutenant governor noted that the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.

“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land,” Patrick said. “Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”

Asked about how people were notified in Kerr County so that they could get to safety, Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”

When reporters pushed on why more precautions weren’t taken, Kelly said: “Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming.”

Popular tourism area prone to flooding

The area is known as “flash flood alley” because of the hills’ thin layer of soil, said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations to help nonprofits responding to the disaster.

“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” Dickson said. “It rushes down the hill.”

The river tourism industry is a key part of the Hill Country economy. Well-known, century-old summer camps bring in kids from all over the country, Dickson said.

“It’s generally a very tranquil river with really beautiful clear blue water that people have been attracted to for generations,” Dickson said.

At least two dozen people are dead and 23 girls are missing from a summer camp after heavy tropical rains flooded the Guadalupe River, sending a wall of fast-moving water through the Texas Hill Country early Friday morning. NBC 5 has confirmed that several of the missing children are from North Texas.

During a briefing Friday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confirmed more than 20 girls were missing from Camp Mystic, a sprawling all-girls camp with the capacity to house 750 campers on several sites west of Hunt.

Patrick said hundreds of people were searching for the girls on the ground and in the air and that he was praying that all of the missing children would be found alive.

“I’m asking the people of Texas, do some serious praying this afternoon — on-your-knees kind of praying — that we find these young girls,” Patrick said.

The camp issued a statement Friday morning saying the parents of missing children had been notified, and if a parent had not been contacted, their child had been accounted for.

“I want the parents out there who are watching … but the parents who got calls from Camp Mystic where they said your daughter is not accounted for at this point, I want all of you to know we will do everything humanly possible, 24/7, looking at every tree, turning over every rock, whatever it takes, if your child is one of those truly missing and not just out of touch, to find your daughter,” Patrick said.

While officials have not released any information about the girls from Camp Mystic, including their names or ages, NBC 5 confirmed Friday afternoon that several of the missing girls are from North Texas.

Hadley Hanna, from Dallas, is one of the missing campers. On Friday night, Hadley’s mother shared her photo with NBC 5 and said she was devastated.

Camp Mystic officials said they were working with search and rescue teams to find the missing girls.

Patrick said the state has nine rescue teams, with as many as 500 people on the ground, currently searching the area. Additionally, 14 helicopters and a dozen drones are searching by air. Patrick said they had plenty of resources in the area and didn’t need any volunteers to self-deploy on the ground or in the air to assist in the search.

Several other camps along the river issued statements Friday about the flooding and the status of their campers. Patrick said no other camps had reported missing children but couldn’t say with absolute certainty that there were no other missing campers. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said parents with questions about their child’s status should call their camp directly.

“We have a lot of camps … I don’t know any specifics about any of the individual camps,” Kelly said. “What I do know is that everybody is doing their very best to try to identify as much as we can.”

At a briefing late Friday night, state officials confirmed the death toll from the flooding had climbed to 24. There’s also an undetermined number of others who are believed to be missing.

“Some are adults, some are children,” Patrick said Friday of the victims. “We don’t know where those bodies came from.”

Meteorologists said heavy tropical storms dumped as much as 14 inches of rain in the area, causing the Guadalupe River to rise in Hunt to near-record depths overnight. Between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. Friday, the river rose from about 7.5 feet to nearly 30 feet – a 22-foot rise in about three hours. The NWS said they think the river was even higher, but that the gauge was underwater and was no longer reporting data.

During a briefing Friday morning, Judge Kelley said the county didn’t have a warning system to alert residents or camps to the threatening weather. At about 4 a.m., the NWS upgraded a Flash Flood Warning to a Flash Flood Emergency, allowing wireless emergency alerts to be sent to cell phones for residents and campers along the river.

When asked why campers hadn’t been evacuated the night before, when the Texas Department of Emergency Management anticipated flash flooding and activated additional emergency response resources, Judge Kelly said he didn’t know.

“We didn’t know this flood was coming. Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming. We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States and we deal with floods on a regular basis. When it rains, we get water,” Kelly said. “We had no reason to believe that this was going to be anything like what’s happened here. None whatsoever.”

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office confirmed there were multiple fatalities related to the flooding early Friday morning, but they were hesitant to share numbers. WOAI-TV reported that Judge Kelly confirmed mid-morning that at least six people had died in the flooding. During a briefing, Kelley later said they had not yet confirmed the identity of any of the victims and said they hoped to release more information about the number of people missing or killed Friday afternoon.

“I’ve been advised not to use any numbers. We do have some numbers, but we’re not going to use them at this time,” Kelly said.

Videos shared online showed cars being swept away and the swollen Guadalupe River raging. Those near the river, creeks and streams are being directed to move to higher ground. The sheriff’s office said that all of Kerr County is an “extremely active scene” and that residents were encouraged to shelter in place and avoid travel.

The NWS said Friday morning the river had crested in Hunt and was falling, but they may again see a rise with additional rainfall. Just how high the river rose is unknown. The NWS said the gauge was underwater and failed when the river reached nearly 30 feet. Downstream, the Guadalupe River flood wave reached Comfort at about 10 a.m. and the river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes and was in major flood stage. A River Flood Warning was issued for the river at Spring Branch, north of San Antonio, where the river was expected to rise to 37 feet Friday night.

“This flood wave will continue downstream through Kerrville and Comfort. This is a very dangerous and life-threatening flood event along the Guadalupe River!” the NWS said in a post on Facebook.

At 11 a.m., the Comfort VFD said the situation was not improving and they were sounding flood sirens, urging all residents in low-lying areas to evacuate immediately.

Due to the flooding, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. issued a disaster declaration Friday morning. The city is reporting widespread power outages.

The US National Weather Service office in Austin-San Antonio said the water rose to the second-highest height, higher than the 1987 flood that killed 10 teenagers on a church bus near Comfort. Judge Kelly said he thought this flood was more catastrophic than the flood in 1987.

“Suffice it to say, this has been a very devastating and deadly flood. This far surpasses the 87 flood,” Judge Kelly said. “When you look out your front door and you see the Guadalupe River running, it’ll wake you up, let me tell you.”

The Guadalupe River runs to Canyon Lake, a dammed USACE reservoir in Comal County designed to catch and store floodwater.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declares a disaster in 15 Central Texas counties

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott returned to Texas on Friday night and met with state leaders before giving an update at about 9:15 p.m.

Abbott said the resources provided to the counties for search and recovery efforts will be limitless, and county leaders will have whatever they need.

“We will stop at nothing to ensure that every asset and person and plane and whatever is needed that’s going to be involved in the process of rescuing every last person and ensure everybody involved in this is going to be fully accounted for,” Abbott said.

Abbott then signed a proclamation, declaring a disaster for several counties impacted by the flooding: Bandera, Coke, Comal, Concho, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reeves, San Saba and Tom Green

The governor said more counties may need to be added to the disaster list.

State resources responding to flooding in Central Texas

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state is “providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods.”

“The State of Texas today has mobilized additional resources in addition to the resources sent in preparation for the storms. I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas.”

Ahead of the storms, Abbott said the State of Texas activated emergency response resources in Central Texas in preparation for continued heavy rainfall and flash flooding threats.

The following state emergency response resources are available to support local flood response operations:

• Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1 and Texas A&M Task Force 3): Swiftwater Rescue Boat Squads to assist with flood rescues
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Game Wardens, rescue boat teams, and helicopters with hoist capability to assist with flood rescues
• Texas Department of Public Safety: Helicopters with hoist capabilities, Texas Highway Patrol Troopers, and the Tactical Marine Unit
• Texas National Guard: High-profile vehicles to aid stranded motorists, Blackhawk helicopters with hoist capability to assist with flood rescues
• Texas Department of Transportation: Personnel monitoring road conditions
• Texas A&M Forest Service: Saw Crews to assist with the clearing of roadways
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster Assessment and Recovery Agents, as well as County Extension Agents, to support agricultural and livestock needs
• Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordination with utility providers
• Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring of the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air/water/wastewater monitoring
• Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force): Severe Weather Support Packages consisting of medics, ambulances, and all-terrain vehicles

“I am working in coordination with the state’s emergency response team on the significant flooding that occurred in the Hill Country and Concho Valley regions in the early hours of this morning. The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office has reported catastrophic flooding in the area, with several people missing and confirmed loss of life. Additional rain is forecast in those areas. Even if the rain is light, more flooding can occur in those areas. There is an ongoing threat for possible flash flooding from San Antonio to Waco for the next 24 to 48 hours in addition to the continued risks in west and central Texas.

“I urge Texans in impacted areas to heed the guidance of their local officials. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and other state emergency response assets are on the ground assisting Texas communities with response operations and any unmet needs. I will hold a press conference from the Texas State Emergency Operations Center in Austin later this afternoon to brief the public and the media with the latest updates. Media advisory to follow.”

According to the Culver City Police Department, the system is intended to “cut through the noise of daily life” with a “high-pitched tone followed by a low-pitched tone.” The system will be activated by patrol vehicles in evacuation areas.

Police say the system will be exclusively used for evacuations during major emergencies including wildfires, earthquakes, and floods.

Both the Culver City Police and Fire Departments will be fitted with the system. It’s unclear if any additional agencies will be as well.

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“As your Police Chief, my foremost priority is the safety of our community,” said Chief Jason Sims in an statement. “Implementing the Hi-Lo Audible Warning System is just one of many steps we are taking to enhance our emergency preparedness. We will continue to assess and innovate our methods to keep Culver City safe and ready for any emergencies we may face together.”

“The Hi-Lo Audible Warning System is a valuable addition to the tools available to our first responders to enhance safety in emergencies,” added Culver City’s Mayor Dan O’Brien. “By implementing this system, we reinforce our commitment to a proactive approach to protecting our community.”

Culver City largely was unaffected by the January wildfires, but within just 12 miles of the burn area.

The evacuation warning will go into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The warning is anticipated to last until 6 p.m. Thursday when the heaviest of the rains are expected to subside.

The Airport Fire burned 23,500 acres in Orange and Riverside counties in September. It was contained Oct. 5.

Evacuation Warning (Voluntary) effective Wednesday, March 12 at 10 AM for Trabuco, Hot Springs, Bell, Long & Modjeska Canyons due to possible debris flows near the Airport Fire burn scar. More info & map: https://t.co/3oBrSGVDYR.
–#OrangeCountyCA #occanyonflood pic.twitter.com/SyyYzphwdQ

— County of Orange (@OCGovCA) March 12, 2025

Affected areas include:

• Trabuco Canyon – (Voluntary)
• Hot Springs Canyon – (Voluntary)
• Bell Canyon – (Voluntary)
• Long Canyon – (Voluntary)
• Modjeska Canyon – (Voluntary)

Voluntary evacuation warnings may turn to mandatory evacuations if conditions drastically worsen throughout the storm. 

Canyon residents are strongly encouraged to voluntarily evacuate, “especially those with disabilities, access and/or functional needs, and canyon residents with large animals,” Orange County said in an online notice. 

Orange County Public Libraries and the American Red Cross will open a dormitory style shelter for evacuated residents also at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the Foothill Ranch Library Program Annex.

Projected rainfall totals include 1 to 2 inches in coastal and valley areas and 2 to 4 inches in the mountains.

Most of the rain will fall before Thursday morning, but could leave roads flooded. While Trabuco Canyon Road at Trabuco Creek is currently open for public use, roads may shutter as a public safety measure.

Residents should check the Orange County Sheriff’s webpage for continued updates about flood warnings and closures. 

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Homeowners are encouraged to protect their property with sandbags.

Sand and sandbag stations can be found on the Orange County fire authority website. Sandbags may also be available for residents at public works departments in cities throughout Orange County. Residents should call their individual city to check for availability