On July 4, 2025, heavy rain led to the catastrophic flooding of Kerrville, Texas, and its surrounding Hill Country. Rivers and creeks were already overflowing from torrential rain overnight, setting the stage for fast-moving, dangerous flash floods. The Guadalupe River rose sharply, thrusting a life-threatening emergency upon hundreds of residents. In some places, 5 to 15 inches of rain fell in a very short time.
Officials and residents said it was some of the worst flooding they had witnessed, with river levels reaching the second highest on record in some locations. In parts of Kerr County, the river surged by more than 20 feet in an hour. In addition to causing major damage to homes and roads, the storm left thousands of people with little warning to evacuate.
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River Levels Break Records
The Guadalupe River, which flows through Kerrville and surrounding communities including Hunt and Comfort, soon rose from its banks. Some river gauges recorded readings of such an extreme magnitude that the devices themselves became damaged by the sheer force of the water. In Hunt, the river peaked higher than the record flood. In Kerrville, the river surged up so quickly that residents had scant time to respond.
Communities and R.V. parks along the river quickly went underwater. Residents along Water Street, Riverside Drive, and Arcadia Loop were hit especially hard. Streets turned into rivers, cars were swept away, and emergency responders had trouble reaching some places because of the power of the floodwaters.
Evacuations and Rescues
Local officials acted as quickly as they could to order evacuations and implement rescues. Shelters were opened at schools, as well as the Walmart parking lot on Junction Highway. Search and rescue efforts for stranded residents took place in boats and, in some cases, with the help of drones, by first responders. Huge numbers of people had been plucked from the top of their homes or trees after being cut off by the rising waters.
Summer camps on the Guadalupe River also sustained damage. Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp, was evacuated overnight and was safe. Damage was also extensive at other camps, Camp Rio Vista and Camp Sierra Vista. Fortunately, most campers had already left for the season, and no one was reported injured at those campgrounds.
Lives Lost in the Flood
At least six people died during the flooding, regrettably. Local authorities were still identifying the victims and notifying their families on the morning of July 4, when they confirmed the deaths. Additional deaths may be reported as a search for missing people goes on.
Some of the hardest-hit areas included a restaurant and an RV park where many mobile homes were washed away entirely. Survivors said the flood was terrifying, and some said they had never witnessed the river rise so quickly or so powerfully.
Roads Closed and Power Out
Floodwaters doused the region and several main roads in and out of Kerrville were closed. Streets such as Thompson Drive, Guadalupe Street, Lowry Street, and Arcadia Loop were submerged. Highway 27 and various sections of FM 1350 in far nearby Kendall County also were shut down. The rising waters also made it dangerous to drive and difficult to rescue people.
More than 2,600 homes and businesses lost power. Utility crews were out in force and working hard, but in many neighborhoods, it was simply too dangerous for them to come close enough to repair the widespread damaged lines. Officials warned drivers to not travel on flooded roads and to remain home to allow emergency responders to operate.
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City Declares Disaster
The Kerrville mayor declared a citywide disaster early in the day on July 4. Emergency plans were overwhelmed and additional help was sought from state and regional agencies. The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office issued dire warnings for people to take shelter and to stay away from rivers and creeks.
Possible rain was also expected to persist, according to the National Weather Service, suggesting that the situation could deteriorate. Phones throughout the affected region belched out emergency alerts urging everyone to take the flooding seriously and obey all safety orders.
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