A fresh wave of floods battered Central Texas on Monday, delaying some rescue efforts as the death toll climbed to 133.
Officials ordered volunteer crews to suspend search operations near the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, as the area hit hardest by catastrophic flash flooding on July 4 faced further flood threats.
A broad swath of the Hill Country remained under flood watch alerts Tuesday morning, while officials warned of “life-threatening” flash floods across parts of South Central Texas.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott said that the number of people missing statewide had fallen to 97, a significant reduction from the 173 unaccounted for that he announced almost a week ago.
It comes amid a Washington Post report that Richard “Dick” Eastland, the Camp Mystic executive director who died in the July 4 disaster, received a severe flood warning on his phone an hour before floodwaters slammed into the all-girls summer camp.
Key Points
- Camp Mystic leader 'waited an hour to evacuate' after severe flood warning
- Death toll: At least 131 dead as missing falls to double digits
- Life-threatening flash floods threaten South Central Texas
- Where things stand now more than 10 days after flash floods
Armies of Texas volunteers dig out, clean up, after fatal floods
Monday 14 July 2025 18:30 , Associated PressIt began with a stranger asking “Do you need help?”
“Yes,” Paul Welch told the man in a pickup truck, “I desperately need some help."
A day later, dozens of people pulled up outside the modest cabin where Welch and his partner lived overlooking the Guadalupe River until Texas' July 4 floods.
Keep reading:
Armies of Texas volunteers dig out, clean up, after fatal floods
Texas recovery efforts could take six months, sheriff says
Monday 14 July 2025 20:00 , Katie HawkinsonKerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said crews could continue search and recovery efforts for up to six months following the deadly floods on Independence Day.
“I think we’ll still go strong for another month or two, up to maybe six months winding down,” Leitha said.
More than 2,000 people are helping the search efforts.
Crews paused on Sunday as the Guadalupe River continued to rise due to heavy rain.
“Emergency management it’s a process, and you do it one step at a time and you work through it one step at a time,” Leitha added.
Kerrville city councilmember requests security
Monday 14 July 2025 21:30 , Katie HawkinsonA Kerrville city council member has requested that additional security be provided for local officials as they receive threats following the July 4 floods in Kerr County.
“We’re not only dealing with all the aftermath from this tragic event, but now we have to worry about threats that are coming to staff,” Brenda Hughes said at a city council meeting Monday. “I want it on the record that I would like additional security here and I’m not leaving here until we get it.”
Monday’s meeting marked the first since the floods.
Death toll at 131, governor says
Monday 14 July 2025 21:35 , Katie HawkinsonThe deadly floods in central Texas have killed 131 people, Governor Greg Abbott said Monday.
At least 101 people still missing
Monday 14 July 2025 21:45 , Katie HawkinsonAt least 101 people are still missing in central Texas, Governor Greg Abbott said on Monday.
Ninety-seven people are missing in and around Kerr County, Governor Greg Abbott said. Three people are also missing in Travis County, and one person is missing in Williamson County, the governor said.
At least 131 people were killed by the floods in the region.
Texas leads nation in flood deaths due to geography, size and population
Monday 14 July 2025 23:01 , Associated PressEven before the Central Texas floods that killed more than 100 people, the state was by far the leader in U.S. flood deaths due partly to geography that can funnel rainwater into deadly deluges, according to a study spanning decades.
Keep reading:
Texas leads nation in flood deaths due to geography, size and population
Texas Governor expresses gratitude for support from other states
Tuesday 15 July 2025 00:30 , Katie HawkinsonTexas Governor Greg Abbott thanked the states that sent crews to assist with search and rescue efforts in central Texas.
At least 25 states have sent assistance to Texas.
“You can see one thing that's quite obvious, and that is doesn't matter if they're a red state or blue state, they're fellow Americans, and when times get tough, Americans come together,” he said.
Trump approves request to make more Texas counties eligible for disaster assistance
01:33 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump approved a request to make more Texas counties eligible for federal disaster assistance after flash flooding on July 4 devastated communities along the Guadalupe River.
With the new addition of Burnet, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, and Tom Green counties, 10 counties are now approved for the FEMA Public Assistance program.
“President Trump’s approval of my request to add more counties to his disaster declaration is another critical step to get Texans the support they need to recover,” Abbott said in a statement Monday.
He added: “I thank President Trump for swiftly approving my request to approve these additional counties. Texas continues to work around-the-clock to help every impacted community heal and rebuild.”
President Trump approved my request to add Burnet, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, and Tom Green counties to his Major Disaster Declaration.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 14, 2025
10 counties are now eligible for critical financial assistance.
More can be added later.
We will help every impacted community rebuild. pic.twitter.com/IZzKcAGsiA
National Weather Service forecasts 'stable weather' rest of the week, 'fingers crossed'
01:46 , Rachel DobkinThe National Weather Service has forecasted on X Monday “stable weather and warming temperatures” the rest of the week, adding “fingers crossed.”
After a few showers and storms fire up in the daytime Tuesday, we should finally see some stable weather and warming temperatures for the rest of the week. After the past 10 days, fingers crossed. pic.twitter.com/SW0UAPD3Il
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) July 15, 2025
Timelapse shows deadly Texas floodwater rising in minutes
02:30 , Rachel DobkinHard-hit Kerrville warns of flood watch tonight
03:30 , Rachel DobkinThe city of Kerrville, which was hit hard by the July 4 flash flooding, warned residents Monday of a flood watch that remains in effect until 7 a.m. local time Tuesday.
“The National Weather Service continues to forecast moist and unstable weather conditions over the region with continued risks of locally heavy rainfall through late tonight,” city officials wrote in a Facebook post.
The post continued: “Most rainfall totals should be in the 1 to 3 inch range, but an isolated total to 6 inches cannot be ruled out. Rivers and streams remain elevated and will be capable of rising rapidly with any new downpours.”
ICYMI: Trump brands reporter 'evil' for asking if warnings could have saved kids' lives in Texas floods
04:30 , Rachel DobkinTexas officials share photos of search efforts after catastrophic floods
05:30 , Rachel DobkinThe Texas Department of Public Safety shared photos on X of special agents conducting search operations along the North Fork of the Guadalupe River after it burst its banks on July 4.
At least 131 have been killed by the floods, and 101 are still missing, according to Governor Greg Abbott.
Special Agents w/ DPS' Criminal Investigations Division conducted search operations along the North Fork of the Guadalupe River, examining brush piles w/ Texas Task Force One. During this single op, teams covered six miles. #ProtectAndServe #kerrvilletx pic.twitter.com/3TW4mKpotw
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) July 14, 2025
Camp Mystic reportedly waited an hour to evacuate after warnings of ‘life-threatening’ Texas floods
06:30 , Rachel DobkinThe director of Camp Mystic waited more than an hour after receiving a life-threatening flood alert before beginning to evacuate campers asleep in their cabins, his family confirmed through a spokesman.
Executive Director Richard “Dick” Eastland, 70, along with his wife, had been in charge of the beloved all-girls Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas, since the 1980s.
It’s located directly in the flood zone. But when the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Kerr County at 1:14 a.m. on July 4, warning of “life-threatening flash flooding” near the Guadalupe River, little direction was given by the leadership of the camp.
Eastland did not order evacuations until 2:30 a.m., by which time torrential rains were already falling and the river was rapidly rising, according to family spokesman Jeff Carr, as reported by The Washington Post.
Read more from Andrea Cavallier:
Camp Mystic director waited an hour to evacuate girls after receiving warning
In pictures: Children's toys placed on Texas flood victim memorial
07:30 , Rachel DobkinA memorial wall in Central Texas includes children’s toys as dozens of victims from the July 4 flash floods were kids.
Death toll: At least 131 dead as missing falls to double digits
08:38 , James LiddellTexas Governor Gregg Abbott said that at least 131 people have been killed by the July 4 flash floods that tore through the Hill Country.
The number of people missing statewide, he said, had fallen to 97, a significant reduction from the 173 unaccounted for that he announced almost a week ago.
Life-threatening flash floods threaten South Central Texas
08:47 , James LiddellA broad swath of South Central Texas remains under flash flood warnings early this morning as torrential downpours persist across the region.
The alerts are currently in place for Dimmit, Edwards, Kinney, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, and Zavala counties, where the National Weather Center warns of potentially “life threatening” flash flooding.
Doppler radar suggests that some counties could experience up to four inches of rainfall in an hour.
Stormy skies to give way to dry, warmer weather later this week
10:00 , James Liddell
Flood watch in effect until 1 p.m.
11:30 , James Liddell
Torrential rains continue to batter state
13:00 , James LiddellUp to two inches of rain an hour continues to douse portions of the Rio Grande Plains and Southern Edwards Plateau, with flash flood warnings extended until 8.30 a.m.
Abbott visits Big Sandy Creek, where major bridge swept away in July 4 floods
14:29 , James LiddellTexas Governor Greg Abbott visited the Sandy Creek Bridge in Leander on Monday to survey flood damage and meet with locals, volunteers and first responders.
“We remain unrelenting in our 24/7 operation to save and protect lives,” he tweeted. “Texas is a community. We are Texas strong.”
A temporary low-water crossing has been installed over Big Sandy Creek after flooding destroyed the community’s only bridge, cutting off access to around 200 homes
Democrat says cutting funding to NOAA amid Texas floods what happens when 'climate denier in chief' in Oval Office
14:55 , Oliver O'ConnellMarkey on Trump cutting NOAA amid historic flash floods: "This is what you get when you have a climate denier in chief within the Oval Office." pic.twitter.com/a56p5jaM20
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 15, 2025
Where things stand now more than 10 days after flash floods
15:35 , Oliver O'ConnellTexas’s storm-related death toll has climbed to 131, as authorities warn of further heavy rains just ten days after a devastating flash flood transformed the Guadalupe River into a deadly torrent.
A National Weather Service flood watch, predicting up to half a foot of rain, is in effect until Tuesday morning across a wide swathe of central Texas, from the Rio Grande east to San Antonio and Austin. This advisory includes Kerr County and other parts of the Texas Hill Country, still reeling from the July 4 disaster.
The initial flash flood ravaged the county seat of Kerrville and a riverside Christian summer camp for girls in the nearby town of Hunt. Riverfront residents and search teams, who had been combing the banks for additional victims, were advised to seek higher ground, as searches were suspended due to renewed flood concerns.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed on Monday that storms have claimed at least 131 lives in Texas since July 4, a significant rise from the 120 reported on Friday. The majority of these deaths occurred in and around Kerrville. He added that 97 people remain missing in the greater Kerrville area, down from over 160 last week.
Approximately a third of the Kerr County fatalities are children, most of whom died at Camp Mystic when floodwaters surged through the girls-only summer retreat before dawn on July 4. Authorities have not rescued anyone alive since the day of the floods, when more than a foot of rain fell in less than an hour, sending a deadly wall of water down the Guadalupe River basin.
Governor Abbott announced that state lawmakers would investigate the circumstances of the flooding, disaster preparedness, and emergency response during a special legislative session later this month. The high casualty toll, ranking as one of the deadliest U.S. flood events in decades, has prompted questions regarding the absence of flash-flood warning sirens in Kerr County and vacancies at National Weather Service offices following staffing cuts under the Trump administration.
With reporting from Reuters
Governor explains why identifying Kerr County flood victims is taking time
16:00 , James LiddellSpeaking to reporters Monday, Governor Greg Abbott explained why the process of identifying victims had been particularly slow in rural Kerr County, where a vast majority of the deaths occurred.
“It required pressure from the state and others to make sure they began to expedite that process,” he said. “When a life is lost, that family wants access to their loved one as quickly as possible.”
Abbott said everyone staying at camps or hotels in the flood-ravaged areas has been accounted for. The challenge, he noted, lies in identifying victims who weren’t tied to a specific lodging or had no known place of stay.
“Those who are missing on this list, most of them, were more difficult to identify because there was no record of them logging in anywhere,” Abbott added.
Popularity with tourists making it harder to determine number of missing in area
16:30 , Oliver O'ConnellThe Texas Hill Country is a popular destination for tourists, where campers seek out sites along the river amid rolling hills. This makes it more difficult to determine the number of people still missing.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said during a commissioners’ meeting Monday that it’s been tough to pin down exactly how many tourists were in the area when the flooding happened.
“We’ve heard accounts of trailer after trailer after trailer being swept into the river with families in them. Can’t find the trailers,” Kelly said. “It’s what we don’t know. We don’t know how many of them there are.”
Kelly said he’d been told of one trailer that was found “completely covered in gravel” 27 feet (8.2 meters) below the river’s surface. He added that sonar crews have been scanning the river and nearby lakes, and more teams are expected to arrive.
Commissioner Don Harris noted that officials plan to drain two reservoir lakes on the river.
“Who knows how many out there are completely covered,” Harris said.
With reporting by the Associated Press
Rain again delays rescue efforts in hard-hit Kerr County
17:29 , James LiddellOfficials ordered volunteer crews to suspend search operations on Monday near the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, as the area hit hardest by catastrophic flash flooding on July 4 faced a renewed flood threat.
"Due to the incoming threatening weather, all volunteers should vacate the river area, and MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND for their safety," the city of Kerrville wrote in a Facebook statement.
“Only teams working under the direction of Kerr County Emergency Operations Center Unified Command are permitted in the response zone.”
Search and recovery efforts were initially paused early Sunday – and later resumed – although officials continued to warn of flash flood threats.
Texas flood before-and-after pictures show devastating toll of catastrophe
18:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Photos: Texas flood before-and-after visuals show devastating toll of catastrophe
Search for missing continues after rain delays
18:30 , Oliver O'ConnellSunday and Monday’s weather-induced disruption underscores the challenging conditions for the search operation to locate missing people.
Volunteer search and rescue efforts in Kerr County were halted on Monday due to anticipated heavy rainfall, even as federal teams resumed their operations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Urban Search and Rescue teams fully recommenced their work, according to Obed Frometa, FEMA Blue Incident Support Team information officer.
However, the Ingram Volunteer Fire Department, which has been organising approximately 200 searchers, suspended its operations for the day due to the expected downpour in Kerr County. Levi Bizzell, a spokesperson for the department, highlighted the dedication of those involved: "Everybody here wants to be out there working. They literally come in in the morning, whether they are tired or not, and they just want to get out there and work because they want to find closure for these families."
Kerr County officials, meanwhile, advised all volunteers to vacate the river area and move to higher ground, stipulating that only teams operating under the direction of the Kerr County Emergency Operations Centre Unified Command were permitted in the response zone. Members of the volunteer Lone Star Search and Recovery group confirmed they were pulled from recovery operations on Sunday due to the rain, spending Monday instead clearing debris from a severely damaged neighbourhood. Aron Gutierrez, a volunteer who travelled from Fort Worth, stated: "They don’t want us out there right now until it clears up."
With reporting from the Associated Press
Texas floods mapped
19:30 , Oliver O'ConnellHere are the affected areas as the search for the missing continues, 11 days later.
Texas floods mapped: Here are the affected areas as death toll rises
ICYMI: House Democrats call for urgent review of deadly Texas flooding
20:30 , Oliver O'ConnellHouse Democrats addressed a letter to President Donald Trump and weather infrastructure officials on Friday, expressing “deep concern” about the flooding in Kerr County, Texas, and the “structural shortcomings at the federal, state, and local levels that contributed to the tragic loss of life.”
House Democrats call for urgent review of deadly Texas flooding
Thank you for following our rolling coverage of the floods in Texas.
We are now closing this live blog, but will continue to track the latest developments from the Texas Hill Country as the recovery efforts continue.
