Deadly Flooding Slams South Texas, Forcing Evacuations Near Camp Mystic Disaster Site

South Texas flooding has once again turned life-threatening as relentless downpours drench the region, triggering evacuations, water rescues, and record-breaking river surges. Slow-moving storms packing heavy rain have hammered an already saturated area, prompting authorities to issue the highest level of flood warnings and evacuate thousands. For a region still reeling from last year’s tragedy, the scene has become painfully familiar.

A Flash Flood Emergency in Familiar Territory

The most alarming development came early Thursday, when the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency, the highest level of flood warning, for parts of Texas Hill Country. This is the same region devastated by last year’s catastrophic floods, which claimed more than 130 lives, including 25 girls and two counselors at Camp Mystic.

The weather service painted a dire picture, warning that flash flooding was already underway with evacuations, escalating water rescues, and water beginning to enter structures. Officials also cautioned that river levels would continue to rise along the Guadalupe River.

Echoing the events of last year, water levels on the Guadalupe River began to surge dramatically, climbing more than 10 feet in just a single hour. The rapid rise underscored the danger facing communities along its banks.

Uvalde County Among the Hardest Hit

Uvalde County has borne much of the storm’s fury. The relentless rain, reaching up to 20 inches in some places, has led to dozens of water rescues across the region as waterways swell rapidly.

The scale of the rainfall has been staggering. About half a year’s worth of rain has already fallen in Uvalde County, one of the areas most severely affected. A flash flood emergency was issued for more than 20,000 people there on Thursday morning as heavy rain once again stalled over the area.

The human toll of the rescue efforts has been significant:

• At least 36 people had been pulled from floodwater in Uvalde County through Tuesday.
• Those affected by significant flooding in Uvalde are now under mandatory evacuation orders, according to the Uvalde Police Department.

A Governor’s Warning

Texas Governor Greg Abbott did not downplay the severity of the situation. Speaking at a news conference Wednesday evening, he warned that the state was responding to flooding that could break records in Texas history. He had earlier issued a disaster declaration covering 59 counties.

Despite the intensity of the flooding, Abbott offered one piece of reassuring news, noting that there had been no reported fatalities. He reported that more than 75 people had been rescued from rising floodwaters across the state, and at the peak on Wednesday afternoon, 114 roads in Texas were flooded, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Communities Under Siege

The flooding has struck multiple communities across the region, each facing its own emergency.

In Boerne, located about 30 miles northwest of San Antonio, a flash flood emergency was issued Wednesday for more than 25,000 people. Cibolo Creek, which runs through the town, overflowed and flooded one of the main roads. Authorities there responded to more than 109 calls for service and conducted 36 water rescues, while another 53 people, including residents evacuated from two apartment complexes, were moved to shelters.

City communications director Chris Shadrock captured the gravity of the moment, describing it as a life-threatening weather event and stressing that he did not want to understate how serious the situation had become.

The town of D’Hanis, roughly 50 miles west of San Antonio, also fell under a flash flood emergency. Medina County and the city of Hondo established a shelter for evacuating residents, and multiple additional rescues were carried out in the area. The National Weather Service warned that Seco Creek was rising rapidly before it began to recede later Wednesday.

Rivers at Dangerous Levels

The situation along the region’s waterways has grown increasingly perilous. Multiple locations on rivers and creeks reached major flood stage, the highest possible level, with three more predicted to join them as they crest over the following 24 hours.

Abbott noted that some Texans could see more rain than fell during the deadly flood on July 4, 2025, though he added that the floodwater was not expected to rise as rapidly this time. He emphasized that the state was better prepared than ever to handle such events, pointing to sirens that had been installed at campgrounds in the Guadalupe River area.

Adding to the chaos, the storms also spawned a tornado near Interstate 10 in the northwest San Antonio area around 8 a.m. Wednesday. The San Antonio Fire Department began assessing multiple properties at a shopping center for damage, though no injuries were reported.

More Heavy Rain on the Way

Unfortunately, the danger was far from over. The flood threat for Thursday included additional rounds of heavy, slow-moving rainfall falling on top of areas already soaked by 10 to 20 inches since Monday night. Forecasters warned that the threat of catastrophic flooding would not ease until Friday, with storms dropping rain at rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour.

Several key details shaped the outlook heading into Thursday:

• The highest-risk zone had shrunk compared to previous days but still included hard-hit areas, with a Level 3 of 5 flooding rain risk covering Kerrville and Uvalde.
• Because the ground was already saturated, even less rain could trigger serious flooding, as water more quickly turned to runoff rather than soaking in.
• Considerable to locally catastrophic impacts were possible along portions of the US 90 corridor west of San Antonio.

Surrounding areas, including San Antonio, faced a lower but still significant flooding risk that extended as far east as Houston. Forecasters warned that flooding was likely on roads and in urban areas, with some homes potentially inundated as creeks, streams, and rivers rose above flood stage.

By Friday, the drenching storms were expected to ease considerably, with a lower-level flood threat lingering mainly in the western part of the state.

Why These Floods Keep Happening

The recurring nature of these disasters is no coincidence. Extreme rainfall events like this are becoming more common as planet-warming pollution drives temperatures higher. Warmer air holds more moisture, which storms can then wring out like a saturated sponge in heavy, localized downpours.

The Hill Country is especially vulnerable to flooding for reasons rooted in its landscape. Its steep slopes, shallow soils, and exposed bedrock tend to repel heavy rain rather than absorb it, sending water rushing across the surface.

The current threat has been fueled by a dangerous combination of atmospheric conditions. Abundant Gulf moisture clashing with a stalled front and a pocket of upper-atmosphere energy created a notorious recipe for slow-moving clusters of storms capable of unleashing several inches of rain per hour.

Looking Ahead

As South Texas endures yet another devastating round of flooding, the region faces a tense waiting game. With more rain forecast, rivers at record levels, and the painful memory of last year’s tragedy still fresh, communities are bracing for whatever comes next.

For now, the focus remains on rescue and evacuation efforts, keeping residents out of harm’s way as the water continues to rise. While officials express confidence that improved preparedness will help limit the damage, the sheer scale of the rainfall serves as a sobering reminder of nature’s power and the growing challenges posed by increasingly extreme weather.