A fresh wave of floods battered Central Texas on Monday, delaying some rescue efforts as the death toll climbed to 131.
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 a renewed flood threat.
A broad swath of the Hill Country remained under flood watch alerts early Tuesday morning, while officials warned of “life-threatening” flash floods in 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 flooding, 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
Death toll: At least 131 dead as missing falls to double digits
08:38
,
James Liddell
Texas 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.
In pictures: Children's toys placed on Texas flood victim memorial
07:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
A memorial wall in Central Texas includes children’s toys as dozens of victims from the July 4 flash floods were kids.
Camp Mystic reportedly waited an hour to evacuate after warnings of ‘life-threatening’ Texas floods
06:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
The 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:
Texas officials share photos of search efforts after catastrophic floods
05:30
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Rachel Dobkin
The 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
ICYMI: Trump brands reporter 'evil' for asking if warnings could have saved kids' lives in Texas floods
04:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
Hard-hit Kerrville warns of flood watch tonight
03:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
The 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.”
Timelapse shows deadly Texas floodwater rising in minutes
02:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
National Weather Service forecasts 'stable weather' rest of the week, 'fingers crossed'
01:46
,
Rachel Dobkin
The 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
Trump approves request to make more Texas counties eligible for disaster assistance
01:33
,
Rachel Dobkin
President 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
Texas Governor expresses gratitude for support from other states
Tuesday 15 July 2025 00:30
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Katie Hawkinson
Texas 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.
Texas leads nation in flood deaths due to geography, size and population
Monday 14 July 2025 23:01
,
Associated Press
Even 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:
At least 101 people still missing
Monday 14 July 2025 21:45
,
Katie Hawkinson
At 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.
Death toll at 131, governor says
Monday 14 July 2025 21:35
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Katie Hawkinson
The deadly floods in central Texas have killed 131 people, Governor Greg Abbott said Monday.
Kerrville city councilmember requests security
Monday 14 July 2025 21:30
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Katie Hawkinson
A 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.
Texas recovery efforts could take six months, sheriff says
Monday 14 July 2025 20:00
,
Katie Hawkinson
Kerr 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.
Armies of Texas volunteers dig out, clean up, after fatal floods
Monday 14 July 2025 18:30
,
Associated Press
It 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: