Texas Flood Horror: 120 Dead, 170 Missing as Heartbreaking Search Continues
The Texas Hill Country floods have killed at least 120 people, with over 170 still missing, though the exact number remains uncertain due to reporting challenges. Search efforts continue amid debris and grief, with authorities urging accurate reporting to aid recovery in the devastated region.
The catastrophic flash floods that struck Texas Hill Country on July 4, 2025, have claimed at least 120 lives, with over 170 people still unaccounted for, though authorities caution that the missing persons tally may be imprecise due to the chaos following the disaster. Kerr County, the hardest-hit area, reported 96 deaths, including 36 children, with 161 individuals still missing in the county alone. The floods, triggered by 6 to 11 inches of rain in hours, devastated the Guadalupe River basin, destroying homes, youth camps, and RV parks. At Camp Mystic, a historic Christian girls’ camp, 27 campers and counselors perished, with five campers and one counselor still missing. “We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for,” Governor Greg Abbott declared, warning, “There very likely could be more added to that list.”
Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, noted that initial reports of hundreds missing in Kerr County were reduced by Tuesday after identifying duplicates and confirming some were safe. “There’s nothing to celebrate about how well we’ve done this far, but there’s a lot of work to be done,” Martin said. Kerrville Police Department’s Jonathan Lamb urged the public to update reports, stating, “We need to keep an accurate count, as accurate as possible. So if you’ve reported somebody missing and they’ve been recovered safely, please let us know.” Authorities have set up a phone number and email for missing persons reports, with Abbott emphasizing, “If you make a prank call or provide false information, that’s a crime. … So you better be correct.”
The search, conducted in 88°F heat, is complicated by debris, overturned vehicles, and muddy terrain. Past disasters, like the 2018 California Camp Fire, where 3,000 initially missing were mostly found safe, highlight the challenge of accurate tallies. “Put yourself in a family member’s shoes,” said Sgt. Juan Valencia of Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, recalling similar efforts. “Sometimes you find them miles away.” Social media posts on X reflect despair, with one user stating, “161 missing in Kerr County alone, heartbreaking.” With more rain forecast, the region, known as “Flash Flood Alley,” faces ongoing risks, amplifying calls for a siren-based warning system after a $1 million proposal was rejected years ago.