July 2025 Central Texas Floods
Extreme rainfall over the upper Guadalupe River basin produced catastrophic flash flooding before dawn on July 4, 2025. The disaster caused widespread destruction and loss of life across Central Texas, with the heaviest toll in Kerr County and a devastating loss of campers, counselors, and the director at Camp Mystic near Hunt.
Where this record is anchored
Reference points identify the upper Guadalupe corridor and other communities named in the official record. They do not show flood depth, the full inundation boundary, individual loss locations, or present-day conditions.
A defining Texas disaster record
The June 2026 joint Texas legislative report describes the event as the deadliest United States flash flood since 1976. Beyond the extraordinary river rise, the disaster became a defining Texas record of warning, emergency planning, evacuation, rescue, grief, recovery, and legislative reform.
What happened
Condensed from the official records linked below.
- State resources activated
TDEM activated state response resources in advance of heavy-rain and flash-flood threats across West and Central Texas.
- Flood Watch in effect
A National Weather Service Flood Watch included Kerr County and warned that locally heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding.
- Flash Flood Warning
NWS upgraded the Kerr County alert and specifically identified Hunt as a community expected to experience flash flooding.
- Catastrophic river rise
Extreme rainfall of approximately 10 to 15 inches over the upper basin drove a rapid flood wave down the Guadalupe River.
- Hunt gauge crests
The USGS gauge at Hunt reached 37.52 feet after rising from approximately 10 feet around 3 a.m.
- Federal disaster declared
The federal major-disaster declaration DR-4879-TX began the formal federal recovery record for the July storms and flooding.
- Joint report adopted
Texas Senate and House investigating committees adopted a detailed report focused on Camp Mystic and lessons for future safety reform.
What this record does—and does not—show
This record addresses a disaster involving profound loss of life. The totals reflect the June 18, 2026 joint legislative report and may be revised by later official findings. The page does not identify individual victims, assign civil or criminal liability, or substitute for the complete investigative record.