At least two people have died, and more than 200 others have been rescued after catastrophic flash flooding swept across the Texas Hill Country, inundating communities still recovering from the devastating floods that killed more than 130 people a year ago.
Gov. Greg Abbott said on Thursday that one victim was swept away while driving on a flooded road near Uvalde, while the second person died in Kerr County as floodwaters surged overnight. Emergency crews continue rescue operations as additional rainfall threatens already swollen rivers.
The flooding follows days of heavy rain that caused rivers to rise rapidly across Central Texas, prompting evacuations, road closures and widespread emergency response efforts.
Hundreds Rescued As Floodwaters Rose
Abbott said more than 2,000 first responders were deployed, with rescue teams using boats and helicopters to reach stranded residents trapped in homes, vehicles, and trees.
More than 200 people had been rescued by Thursday evening, including drivers caught in floodwaters and families isolated by rising rivers.
The National Weather Service warned that several rivers reached dangerous levels within hours, with portions of the Guadalupe River rising more than 30 feet. Officials said additional rainfall is expected through Friday, and some waterways could approach historic flood levels.
“What happened last year was a warning to people on or near rivers,” Abbott said, The Associated Press reported. “No one can be complacent.”
Victims Identified
One of the victims was identified as 65-year-old John Mark Steward of Kerrville.
According to his wife, Jennie Steward, floodwaters swept their elevated mobile home off its foundation after Goat Creek overflowed into the Guadalupe River. She had been away visiting family when neighbors reported her husband missing.
The couple had spoken by phone on Wednesday to celebrate their third wedding anniversary.
The second fatality occurred near Uvalde when a driver was swept away while attempting to cross a flooded roadway, Abbott said.
Communities Relive Last Year’s Disaster
The latest flooding struck nearly one year after the catastrophic July 2025 Hill Country floods, which claimed more than 130 lives, including campers and counselors at Camp Mystic.
Many residents said emergency alerts and warnings arrived much earlier than they did during last year’s disaster.
“It’s crazy happening two times in one year,” Kerrville resident Josiah Rodriguez said, per AP. “Last year there was no warning. … This year, a lot more alerts have gone into place, a lot more safety measures.”
Residents across the region received repeated warnings to move to higher ground as rivers rose rapidly overnight.
Flooding Impacts Multiple Counties
The storms affected communities from the Hill Country to areas near the Mexico border.
In Kerr County, emergency officials confirmed all campers at riverside summer camps were safe, with several camps sheltering children indoors while monitoring conditions.
Floodwaters also isolated parts of Uvalde, where roads became impassable after the normally dry Leona River overflowed.
Texas Game Wardens rescued nearly 150 people during the day, including children airlifted from a flooded home.
Elsewhere, rising water damaged roads, businesses, and animal rescue facilities. At Buck Wild Animal Rescue near Ingram, staff evacuated dozens of animals overnight before floodwaters destroyed several enclosures.
Rivers Remain Dangerous
Although the Guadalupe River did not surpass the record heights reached during the 2025 disaster in every location, officials said many gauges recorded rapid rises capable of producing life-threatening flooding.
The National Weather Service warned that additional rain could worsen conditions as rivers continue moving downstream.
Flood watches remained in effect Thursday for roughly 6 million Texans, with forecasters warning the threat of flash flooding would continue into Friday.
Emergency officials continue urging residents to avoid flooded roads, heed evacuation orders, and move to higher ground if flooding threatens their area.
Provided by Dallas Express
