Texans are bracing for more rain and flash flooding as the death toll climbs to at least 82, with dozens still missing.
The National Weather Service warned that parts of Central Texas, known as “Flash Flood Alley,” could be doused in as much as 10 inches of rain on Monday. Additional heavy rainfall in the “hardest hit areas of the past few days will lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding,” the agency said.
A desperate search continued for 10 girls and their counselor from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River, which was ravaged by the floods, officials said.
At least four girls missing from the summer camp were found dead. At least 28 children were killed in what Texas Representative Chip Roy called a “once-in-a-century flood.”
The unexpected flash flooding struck on Friday before the July Fourth weekend after torrential rain along the Guadalupe River. The destructive force of the fast-rising waters just before dawn on Friday washed out homes and swept away vehicles.
Key Points
- Death toll rises to at least 82
- 'Hardest hit areas' to expect further flash floods today, NWS says
- Ten Camp Mystic girls among dozens still missing
- Donald Trump will 'probably' visit Texas later this week
- ICYMI: Guadalupe River rose 26ft in 45 minutes
'Hero' Coast Guard swimmer 'saves 165 people' from Camp Mystic
11:53 , James LiddellA U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer has been credited with saving 165 people during the Texas floods.
Scott Ruskan, 26, of New Jersey, was part of the crew tasked with evacuating hundreds of children and staff at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp, along the Guadalupe River near Hunt on Friday.
Petty Officer Ruskan was praised by the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as an “American Hero.”
“This is what it’s all about, right? Like, this is why we do the job,” he told the New York Post.
United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) July 6, 2025
This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene.
Scott Ruskin is…
Eight-year-old twins killed at Camp Mystic, grandfather says
11:29 , James LiddellHanna and Rebecca Lawrence, eight-year-old twin sisters from Dallas, were among those killed in the catastrophic floods at Camp Mystic.
Their grandfather, Dave Lawrence Jr, a Miami childhood education advocate, confirmed their deaths Sunday.
“It has been an unimaginable time for all of us,” Lawrence told the Miami Herald.
“Hanna and Rebecca gave their parents, John and Lacy, and sister, Harper, and all in our family, so much joy. They and that joy can never be forgotten.”
ICYMI: Guadalupe River rose 26ft in 45 minutes
11:05 , James LiddellHeavy rainfall in western Kerr County caused the Guadalupe River to rise rapidly, contributing to severe flash flooding along its banks.
After devastating flash floods began on Thursday evening into Friday morning, meteorologists said that the river swelled more than 26 feet in about 45 minutes.
Buildings, roads, and bridges were destroyed and culminating in one of the region’s worst flash floods.
Camp Mystic, located along the river, was inundated with dozens of campers – including 10 girls and their counselor – being swept away or trapped.
Watch: Moment entire cabin full of people swept downriver in Texas flooding
10:42 , James LiddellIn pictures: Rescue workers and locals comb through Camp Mystic
10:20 , James Liddell
President Trump will 'probably' visit Texas on Friday, he tells reporters
10:00 , Kelly RissmanBefore boarding Air Force One on Sunday evening, the president said he would “probably” visit Texas on Friday.
Asked on whether he planned to visit the state, Trump told reporters: “Probably on Friday. We wanted to leave a little time. I would have done it today, but we'd just be in their way.”
He added: "We're working very close with representatives from Texas, and it's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible.”
Fire department ravaged by floods shuts down fundraiser amid scams
09:40 , James LiddellThe Center Point Volunteer Fire Department says it has shut down its Venmo account after scammers tried to steal donations.
The fire department suffered a near-total loss of equipment after its station flooded while all fire vehicles were out responding to rescues.
“Caution - there are scam Venmo accounts that are using our CPVFD logo and saying they are us but they are not - they are thieves trying to steal the hard earned money from the good people that want to donate,” the CPVFD said in a Facebook post.
Hundreds of first responders descend on Kerr County
09:20 , James LiddellMore than 400 first responders have joined search and rescue operations in Kerr County, a region ravaged by flash flooding, which has taken the lives of at least 40 adults and 28 children.
The first responders include personnel from more than 20 local, state, and federal agencies, according to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office.
They are joined by K9 units and more than 100 air, water and ground vehicles, authorities said.
Watch: Trump denies Weather Service staff cuts affected Texas flood warnings
09:00 , James LiddellFurther threat of flash floods with more rain expected today
08:45 , James LiddellThe National Weather Service has issued another flood watch over central Texas, warning that isolated rainfall could reach up to 10 inches on Monday.
The agency’s Austin/San Antonio branch warned of further threats of flash flooding with an increase in rainfall and storms expected overnight near the I-35 corridor and eastern Hill Country.
Additional heavy rainfall in the “hardest hit areas of the past few days will lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding,” the NWS added.
'God bless Texas': Noem says federal resources are being deployed to the state
08:00 , Kelly RissmanHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who visited Texas on Saturday, thanked the president after he signed a major disaster declaration, which offered federal assistance to the state.
“We are currently deploying federal emergency management resources to Texas first responders, and will work closely with state and local authorities to ensure the people of Texas get the support they need as search efforts continue and recovery begins,” Noem said on Sunday evening.
“Pray for the victims, the families, and our first responders. God bless Texas.”
Former presidents offer condolences after deadly Texas floods
07:00 , Kelly RissmanFormer President Barack Obama called the disaster “heartbreaking” in a statement shared on social media Sunday.
“The flash flooding in Central Texas is absolutely heartbreaking. Michelle and I are praying for everyone who has lost a loved one or is waiting for news — especially the parents. And we’re grateful to the first responders and rescue teams working around the clock to help,” the statement read.
Former President George W. Bush — also the former governor of Texas — similarly offered his condolences to those affected by the flooding in a statement Sunday.
“On this day of prayer, Laura and I are holding up our fellow Texans who are hurting. We are heartbroken by the loss of life and the agony so many are feeling. Those who have lost their precious children are facing a grief no parents should ever know,” he said.
“We are grateful to the first responders and volunteers who are working to find the missing and comfort the grieving at Camp Mystic and along the Guadalupe. We know our words cannot help, but we believe the prayers of so many Americans will."
WATCH: Rescuers search around Camp Mystic for survivors of Texas flash floods
06:00 , Kelly RissmanRescue efforts continue after 70 died in floods after 'wall of water' threatens area
05:00 , Kelly RissmanThree days after flash floods first ravaged south-central Texas and claimed more than 70 lives, local officials are still searching for 10 missing campers as another “wall of water” heads to the area.
Here’s the full story.
At least 70 have died after flooding in Texas - as officials warn ‘wall of water’
Former Camp Mystic camper is now covering the flood aftermath
04:00 , Kelly RissmanCNN anchor Pamela Brown attended Camp Mystic 30 years ago — now she’s covering the tragedy.
“That river was the source of so much joy and fun for us,” Brown said on the job.
“To think that that same river is the source of this devastation,” she added. “It’s just hard to wrap my head around.”
Updated death toll
03:03 , Andrew GeorgesonThe Associated Press has reported that 82 people have now died after flash floods in central Texas.
10 girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic remains missing.
Everything we know about Texas flooding victims
03:00 , Kelly RissmanThe identities of the 79 flood victims are still being determined and released to the public. Here’s what we know about the victims so far.
Ariana Baio and Katie Hawkinson have the story.
WATCH: Pope Leo offers prayers and condolences to victims of Texas floods
02:00 , Kelly RissmanThe latest from Kerr County
01:30 , Kelly RissmanSearch and rescue operations, according to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office.
The crews include “hundreds of officers, deputies, and support staff working every aspect of this emergency, along with air, water, K9, and other assets conducting search and rescue,” the office said.
As of Sunday early afternoon, the sheriff’s office said it had recovered 68 deceased in Kerr County: 40 adults and 28 children. Eighteen adults are pending identification, and 10 children also pending identification, the office said.
Ten Camp Mystic campers and one counselor are still missing. “We continue to offer our condolences to those affected, and we are working tirelessly to reunite families,” the sheriff’s office said.
WATCH: Timelapse video shows Texas flash floods turn dry river into deadly rapids in 20 minutes
01:00 , Kelly RissmanCentral Texas braces for more rainfall after devastating floods
Monday 7 July 2025 00:40 , Kelly RissmanThe San Antonio area is now bracing for more heavy rainfall.
“Additional rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches are possible with isolated pockets of 10 inches somewhere in the watch area. It is very difficult to pinpoint where exactly the isolated heavy amounts will occur in this pattern,” according to the National Weather Service.
Earlier in the day, Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, warned of a potential “wall of water” heading to the area.
He warned: “Because the ground is already saturated, any rain that falls can be perceived as life-threatening rain.”
President Trump plans to visit Texas 'probably' on Friday
Monday 7 July 2025 00:20 , Kelly RissmanThe president said he plans to visit Texas “probably on Friday.”
Asked about visiting the flood-ravaged state, Trump told reporters on Sunday: “Probably on Friday. We wanted to leave a little time. I would have done it today, but we'd just be in their way.”
Earlier on Sunday, the president announced he had signed a major disaster declaration for the state. “These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing,” he wrote on Truth Social Sunday morning.
Flood survivor says he clung to a meter box
Monday 7 July 2025 00:00 , Ariana BaioChristian Fell, 25, was staying at his grandmother’s home in Hunt when flood waters began quickly rushing in early Friday morning, forcing him to flee through a broken window and cling to a meter box for several hours.
Fell told NBC News that he awoke around 3:00 a.m. local time to water filling the home. In the five minutes Fell took to look around the home for a way out, flood waters from the Guadalupe River had reached his waist. Fell is six feet tall.
“I had to go underwater and swim through the broken window,” Fell explained.
After swimming out, Fell stood on top of a narrow meter box for several hours, waiting for the water to recede while trying to avoid touching electrical wires.
At least 70 have died after catastrophic flooding in Texas - as officials warn ‘wall of water’ could batter region
Sunday 6 July 2025 23:30 , Kelly RissmanThree days after flash floods first ravaged south-central Texas and claimed more than 70 lives, local officials are still searching for 10 missing campers as another “wall of water” heads to the area.
Read more from Kelly Rissman:
At least 70 have died after flooding in Texas - as officials warn ‘wall of water’
Why flash floods are so dangerous
Sunday 6 July 2025 23:00 , John O'ConnorWaters rise so quickly that people are caught off guard, according to the weather service.. Many people run into trouble while traveling. If at home or work, the water can rise so quickly people are trapped before they have time to think about escape.
Read more here:
Why flash floods are so dangerous as Texas storm leaves 24 dead
Trump does not rule out phasing out FEMA despite using them for Texas floods
Sunday 6 July 2025 22:45 , Ariana BaioWhile speaking with reporters in New Jersey on Sunday, President Donald Trump said the conversation about phasing out FEMA would continue “later” despite utilizing the federal program to assist Texas.
“Are you still planning to phase out FEMA?” A reporter asked.
“FEMA is something we can talk about later,” Trump responded. “But right now they’re busy working, so we’ll leave it at that.”
Trump has said he wants to get rid of FEMA after this hurricane season, believing states should be responsible for responding to disasters.
At least 41 people still missing
Sunday 6 July 2025 22:31 , Ariana BaioTexas Governor Greg Abbott said around 41 people were still missing, as search and rescue missions continue in the area where floods destroyed entire homes.
“Across the state, in all the areas affected by flooding, there are 41 known missing,” Abbott said on Sunday afternoon.
At least 11 of those people are young girls who were at Camp Mystic.
Death toll reaches 79
Sunday 6 July 2025 22:16 , Ariana BaioAt least 79 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the catastrophic floods in Central Texas, officials said on Sunday afternoon.
Of those deaths, 68 are in Kerr County, four are in Travis County, two in Kendall County, three in Burnet County, one in Williamson County, and one in Tom Green County.
More than $32k raised for family who lost daughters in flood
Sunday 6 July 2025 22:02 , Ariana BaioMore than $32,000 has been donated to the Harber family, who suffered a devastating loss when their 13-year-old and 11-year-old children were killed in the catastrophic floods.
Brooke, 13, and Blair, 11, were staying at their grandparents' house in Hunt, Texas, on Friday evening when the rushing waters flooded homes in the neighborhood around 3:30 a.m., Jennifer Harber, the aunt of the two young girls, said in a GoFundMe.
By the time the girls’ parents, who were in a house up the street, realized the direness of the situation, they had to evacuate to safety, unable to reach the two young girls and their grandparents.
Jennifer said Brooke texted family members saying, “I love you,” around 3:30 a.m.
The family is still looking for the grandparents, Mike and Charlene Harber.
Search and rescue look through flooding debris for survivors
Sunday 6 July 2025 21:40 , Ariana Baio
Texas Governor warns people to avoid areas as more rain is expected
Sunday 6 July 2025 21:25 , Ariana BaioDuring a press conference on Sunday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott warned people to stay off lakes and stay out of unfamiliar areas that could potentially face additional flash flooding on Sunday or Monday.
Abbott said people, “need to realize, for one, you’re in an area with land is already saturated, saturated with water. But for another, that when more water comes down, it could lead to rapid flash flooding events.”
National Weather Service sent out flood warnings hours in advance
Sunday 6 July 2025 21:06 , Ariana BaioMeteorologists are pushing back on any allegations or assumptions that the National Weather Service did not inform residents of the impending flash floods in Central Texas over the weekend.
Hours before intense storms dumped rain on the region, the NWS sent out a series of warnings about flash floods – a common occurrence in the area.
An initial flood watch was sent around 1:18 p.m. local time on Thursday.
That was raised to a flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. local time on Friday when storms suddenly engorged the Guadalupe River to a level that has not been seen in years.
Around 5:20 a.m., the NWS declared a flash flood emergency, warning of a dangerous situation.
While there were some staffing shortages at the NWS offices in San Antonio and San Angelo, both offices were equipped with enough staff to cover the storms. Additionally, the office in New Braunfels had extra staff on duty for the storms.
Central Texas sees more rain as rescue efforts continue
Sunday 6 July 2025 20:45 , Ariana BaioAs volunteers and officials continue searching for missing individuals, including the 11 girls from Camp Mystic, the Central Texas region is seeing some more rain in the form of scattered thunderstorms.
The National Weather Service has maintained its flood watch advisory and warned that the region could see another two to four inches of rain – though it’s unclear where the rain may fall at the moment.
“It’s hard to say if it’s going to get into Kerr County,” Bob Fogarty, a National Weather Service meteorologist, told the New York Times.
“It might stay further west and stay away from the Guadalupe Basin. It’s just a question of where the rain falls.”
Death toll rises to 70
Sunday 6 July 2025 20:14 , Ariana BaioThe death toll from the devastating Texas floods has reached 70 people, according to reports.
At least 21 of those deceased are children.
Hundreds of volunteers search for missing individuals
Sunday 6 July 2025 20:00 , Ariana BaioHundreds of people in the area impacted by the floods have set out to try and find any survivors of the floods, as the water begins to retreat.
Groups of people scoured the riverbanks of the Guadalupe River on Sunday, seeing if they could find any individuals.
The likelihood of finding survivors decreases every hour that passes, but volunteers are still looking, even to just give family members some closure.
Robert Modgling, a 55-year-old plumber in Hunt, Texas, told the New York Times that he discovered the body of a young girl pinned to a tree.
George W. Bush offers condolences
Sunday 6 July 2025 19:45 , Ariana BaioFormer president George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush released a statement sending condolences to the victims of the Texas floods.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of life and the agony so many are feeling. Those who have lost their precious children are facing a grief no parents should ever know. We are grateful to the first responders and volunteers who are working to find the missing and comfort the grieving at Camp Mystic and along the Guadalupe,” Bush said.
“We know our words cannot help, but we believe the prayers of so many Americans will."
Watch: Pope Leo offers prayers to victims of Texas floods
Sunday 6 July 2025 19:30 , Ariana BaioOfficials still unsure why camps weren't evacuated
Sunday 6 July 2025 18:48 , Ariana BaioOfficials in Kerrville, Texas, could not provide an answer as to why the summer camps located along the Guadalupe River were not evacuated ahead of the storm.
While weather offices in the surrounding area did issue warnings about the impending storm and potential flash flooding, they were unable to predict the size and scale of the unprecedented flooding.
National Weather Service offices did issue flood warnings as the water level rose and rain continued to pour down.
But when asked why those camps did not evacuate at that point, Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said, “That, that is a great question.”
Rice said they were focused on finding the 11 missing campers and one missing counselor from Camp Mystic first.
Texas officials question scaled-back Weather Service’s flood forecasts - but experts say the agency did all it could
Sunday 6 July 2025 18:18 , Katie Hawkinson, Erin KellerTexas officials are questioning the actions of the National Weather Service leading up to Friday’s deadly floods, as fellow meteorologists defend the agency.
Some state and local officials say the NWS didn’t provide accurate forecasts ahead of Friday’s destructive flooding, months after President Donald Trump’s administration gutted the agency and experts warned forecasts could suffer.
Read more here:
Texas officials question NWS actions amid floods as experts defend the agency
