Texas authorities say one person has died as flash floods hit the Hill Country, sirens blaring and a river near Comfort rising, Abbott warning motorists to stay away from floodwaters.
Heavy rains hit Kerrville as flood threat grows in South Texas
On the morning of Thursday, July 16, heavy rains hit Kerrville, Texas, causing the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood emergency for the area.
Megan Welton, from Storyful
- One person has died in flooding in the Texas Hill Country as flash flood emergencies and rescues unfold across the region.
- Mr Abbott confirmed the death and urged residents across the state not to drive into rising waters, repeating: “Don’t turn around and drown.”
- Rivers near Comfort and Kerr counties, including the Guadalupe River, are rising, prompting siren warnings and road closures.
- The state of Texas launched a large-scale emergency response, deploying teams to central and south Texas for high water rescues.
- Forecasters have warned that further storms and life-threatening flash flooding are possible as warnings remain in place.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed one person has died in the Hill Country after heavy rains caused life-threatening flooding.
“We now know that one life was lost, but it happened overnight. We’re hearing that the loss of life was not in the camper,” Abbott said.
Areas currently affected by major flooding are along the Guadalupe River near Comfort, Texas. As of yesterday, the state of Texas had already deployed more than 1,300 personnel to respond to flooding in Kerr County, Uvalde, and other areas of the state.
Live updates: Life-threatening flash flooding in Texas Hill Country today
Dangerous flash flooding is expected to continue Thursday in parts of south-central Texas as more heavy rain moves on top of already saturated ground. The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio warned that the threat of flooding remains “significant with locally devastating effects” in the southern Edwards Plateau, western Hill Country, Rio Grande region and along I-90 west of San Antonio.
Forecasters said some areas could see an additional 10 to 15 inches of rain, and the highest-risk areas could see widespread 2 to 6 inches of rain. Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches per hour can overwhelm streams, rivers, and arroyos, but even lower rainfall can cause flash flooding because the soil is saturated from previous storms.
“The flooding phenomenon is not over,” the Bureau of Meteorology said, warning residents to avoid flooded roads and be prepared to seek higher ground.
Mr Abbott says flood waters will continue to rise and warns downstream communities are at risk
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said at a news conference Thursday that flooding conditions remain dangerous across the Hill Country, warning that “water levels will continue to rise” as floodwaters move downstream from the areas hardest hit by recent storms.
Mr Abbott said emergency services had rescued about 70 people so far and said areas downstream from Kerrville, including Comfort and surrounding areas, were facing the worst effects “at this point”.
Abbott addresses flood sirens after Texas storm
Gov. Greg Abbott said emergency sirens were in operation throughout the affected areas of Texas while the flood emergency continued, but acknowledged there was a delay in one siren early Thursday.
Last year, Texas installed flood sirens in the region in response to the July 4, 2025 floods that claimed more than 130 lives, 28 of them at Camp Mystic.
One siren that went off just before 4 a.m. didn’t go off right away, but went off about five to 10 minutes later, Abbott said. He said authorities determined the siren system “worked well” overall.
The comments came as authorities continue to respond to life-threatening flooding across the Hill Country, where rising river levels and further heavy rain remain a concern.
Kerrville power outage map
Texas weather forecasts and warnings
Mateo Rosiles is a Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and local Texas newspapers. Do you have any news tips for him? Email us at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
