Key Points:
- Catastrophic floods in central Texas, starting July 4, 2025, killed at least 110 people, including 30 children, with 68 deaths in Kerr County alone, Gov. Greg Abbott said.
- Ten girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp, remain missing, with over 850 rescued statewide.
- President Trump signed a major disaster declaration on July 6, 2025, deploying FEMA and Coast Guard resources, and plans to visit Texas on July 11.
Torrential rains on July 4, 2025, dumped up to 15 inches of rain, causing the Guadalupe River to crest at 29 feet, its second-highest level ever, resulting in widespread flooding in central Texas, particularly in Kerr County. The death toll reached 110 by July 6, with 68 in Kerr County, including 30 children, and 10 others across Travis (5), Burnet (3), Williamson (1), and Tom Green (1) counties.
Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp, was severely impacted, with 10 campers and one counselor still missing among 750 attendees. Over 850 people were rescued, some of whom were clinging to trees for their lives.
Trump’s Response and Visit
President Trump, speaking on July 6, called the floods “absolutely horrible” and signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, unlocking FEMA and Coast Guard support. He plans to visit Texas on July 11, after coordinating with Governor Greg Abbott, who toured Camp Mystic on July 5, describing it as “horrendously ravaged”.
The Trump administration is working with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was on-site on July 5. Trump expressed condolences, stating, “God bless the state of Texas”.
Controversy Over Federal Cuts
Trump’s prior cuts to NOAA, including the layoffs of thousands of NWS staff, sparked criticism for potentially undermining flood warnings.
According to NOAA director Rick Spinrad, short-staffing could degrade forecasts, though he lacked direct evidence linking cuts to this disaster.
The NWS issued a flood watch Thursday and warnings by 1:14 a.m. Friday, but Texas officials, like Kerrville’s Dalton Rice, said forecasts underestimated the 10-15 inches of rain. Trump deflected blame, calling it a “100-year catastrophe” and citing the “Biden setup”. Noem defended the NWS, claiming upgrades are underway.
Fears of more flooding persist, with unconfirmed reports of another “wall of water” in the Guadalupe watershed, prompting volunteer evacuations. The NWS warned of flash flooding risks through Monday. Rescue operations, involving 400+ first responders, helicopters, and dogs, continue searching for 41 missing statewide, including Camp Mystic’s 10 girls. The floods, worsened by drought-hardened soil, repeat a 1987 Guadalupe River disaster that claimed 10 lives.
