Texas flooding updates: Over 130 dead as flash flood threat increases in Texas

Kerr County was hit the hardest, with at least 106 deaths.

Last Updated: July 14, 2025, 12:47 AM EDT

Over 130 people are dead from the devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country.

Kerr County was hit the hardest, with at least 106 deaths, including 36 children. President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration for the county and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is on the ground there.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Jul 09, 2025, 5:32 PM EDT

Abbott announces next legislative session will discuss improving early warning systems

Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday released the planned agenda for an upcoming special legislative session.

Four of the 18 agenda items were related to devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country.

The flood-related agenda items included legislation to improve flood warning systems, flood emergency communications, relief funding for hill country floods and natural disaster preparation & recovery.

PHOTO: Governor Abbott gives updates after deadly flooding
Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks with volunteers and residents at a press conference in the aftermath of deadly flooding in Hunt, Texas, U.S., July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores
Sergio Flores/Reuters

"We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come," said Abbott. "There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future."

Abbott’s Special Session to take place on Monday at 12:00 p.m. CT

Jul 09, 2025, 3:13 PM EDT

Kickoff meeting for Kerr County warning system project was planned for mid-July

A Kerrville-area river authority executed a contract last month for a flood warning system that would’ve been used to help with emergency response, local government officials said in response to a request by ABC News.

"An initial kickoff meeting was scheduled for mid-July," an unidentified spokesperson for the area’s Joint Information Center wrote.

What remains of the backside of a home is seen on the banks of the Guadalupe River on July 9, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

A review of minutes of local government meetings shows that some county commissioners, sheriffs and other leaders have urged improved flood warning systems in the area for decades.

During a meeting on April 17, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to select a company to develop a flood warning system in Kerr County.

The contract was for “a centralized dashboard to support local flood monitoring and emergency response,” which would allow emergency managers to view real-time streamflow and rainfall data all on one platform, according to local officials.

PHOTO: People search along the Guadalupe River after flooding in Kerrville, Texas,  July 9, 2025.
People search along the Guadalupe River after flooding in Kerrville, Texas, July 9, 2025.
Gerald Herbert/AP

The system would not issue public alerts, but would serve as "a decision-support resource intended to complement existing infrastructure," officials said.

The spokesperson for the Joint Information Center told ABC News, "In light of recent events the timeline [of the new system] will be reevaluated."

-ABC News’ Jared Kofsky

Jul 09, 2025, 11:08 AM EDT

95 dead in Kerr County, including 36 kids

In hard-hit Kerr County, the death toll has climbed to 95, including 36 children, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a news conference Wednesday.

The statewide death toll stands at 118.

A broken heart sign is displayed near Camp Mystic, July 8, 2025, after a flash flood swept through the area in Hunt, Texas.
Eli Hartman/AP

A couple waits in their golf cart as a tractor pulls away debris from the bank of the Guadalupe River on July 8, 2025 in Center Point, Texas.
Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

Kerr County's number of missing persons remains at 161, including five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic.

"This incident will be reviewed -- you have my word,” the sheriff said, adding that improvements will be made if needed.

Kerrville police commended the officers who in the darkness of early Friday morning "realized that areas of town that traditionally don't flood were going to flood, and that low lying areas close to the river were in danger."

"Our officers spent hours going back and forth in that first hour. They evacuated over 100 homes and evacuated and rescued over 200 people," Kerrville police community services officer Jonathan Lamb said.

A traffic sign reading "Road may flood" lies on the ground near the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, on July 8, 2025.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images

Officers went "door-to-door, waking people up, convincing them that, ‘Yes, the floodwaters are coming, and you need to leave now,'" he said. "They rescued people out of vehicles. They rescued people out of homes that were already flooding, pulling them out of windows."

Lamb said the tragedy would have been worse without officers’ quick-thinking.

Jul 09, 2025, 10:30 AM EDT

At least 173 missing in Texas

At least 173 people are missing in Texas in the wake of the devastating flooding.

A law enforcement member works in recovery operations following flooding on the Guadalupe River, in Camp Mystic, Hunt, Texas, July 7, 2025.
Marco Bello/Reuters

The vast majority of the missing -- 161 people -- are in hard-hit Kerr County.

Ten were reported missing in Travis County and another two are missing in Burnet County.

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