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KERR COUNTY, Texas – A dangerous flood emergency turned deadly early this morning as rapidly rising water along the Guadalupe River prompted evacuations, water rescues and widespread road closures across Kerr County.
The Mayor Pro Tem of Kerrville confirmed one person has died as catastrophic flooding swept through the area. Officials have not released any information about the victim.
The confirmation came as emergency crews continued responding to numerous rescue calls and warned residents that life-threatening flooding was ongoing throughout the county.
Officials issued an urgent warning for residents living along the Guadalupe River, particularly downstream toward Comfort, urging them to seek higher ground immediately after the river rose 16 feet in just 30 minutes. Emergency managers warned people not to wait until floodwaters reached their homes before evacuating and urged everyone to stay away from flooded roads, low-water crossings and river access points.
The flooding is the latest disaster to strike the Texas Hill Country just one year after the catastrophic July Fourth floods that killed more than 100 people, including campers and counselors at Camp Mystic. The National Weather Service warned another “large and deadly flood wave” was moving down the Guadalupe River, prompting urgent warnings for residents to move to higher ground immediately.
Gov. Greg Abbott said more than 1,300 emergency personnel had been deployed across the region and that rescue crews had already saved more than 70 people.
“Our number one focus is saving lives,” Abbott said.
Flash Flood Emergency
The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Emergency for Hunt and Kerrville after torrential rain continued to fall across the South Fork of the Guadalupe River watershed, warning that catastrophic flooding was occurring and additional rainfall would only worsen conditions.
LIVE: Flood Watch stays in effect through Thursday evening as storms threaten South Texas
The City of Kerrville urged residents to shelter in place, move to the highest safe level of their homes and avoid unnecessary travel while dangerous floodwaters continued rising.
Emergency officials also warned of a large wall of water moving down Harper Road, according to the Tierra Linda Volunteer Fire Department.
The Sidney Baker Bridge was temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.
Evacuations & Shelters
As conditions rapidly deteriorated, the Buckhorn Lake Resort on Goat Creek Road near Interstate 10 and the Ingram RV Park began evacuating guests. A shelter and reunification center was established at Calvary Temple Church, 3000 Loop 534 in Kerrville.
Emergency officials also opened three shelters in Uvalde as widespread flooding and rising water along the Leona, Nueces and Frio rivers isolated parts of the city. Residents needing shelter can go to:
- Flores Elementary Campus, 901 N. Getty St.
- Dalton Elementary School, 600 N. Fourth St.
- Southwest Texas College, 2401 Garner Field Road.
Floodwaters also overwhelmed Uvalde overnight, trapping people in vehicles and cutting off access into the city. Texas Game Wardens rescued more than 40 people and evacuated about a dozen others, while local rescue crews used boats to reach stranded residents.
Road & Bridge Closures
Floodwaters have caused extensive damage to bridges and transportation infrastructure across Kerr County, leaving several crossings closed, washed out or heavily damaged:
- Sidney Baker Street Bridge: Closed after a recovery barge became lodged underneath the bridge.
- Anderson Ranch Bridge (Junction Highway): Washed out.
- Ingram Hills Road Bridge: Washed out.
- Henderson Branch Bridge (State Highway 173/Bandera Highway): Washed out.
- Main Street and Water Street bridges: Covered in debris after Town Creek overflowed.
- Highway 39 Bridge: Sustained significant washout damage and has been temporarily stabilized by TxDOT.
- 480 Bridge in Center Point: The Guadalupe River rose 3 to 4 feet in less than 45 minutes, leaving about 4 feet of water over the Highway 27 intersection.
Travel remains extremely hazardous throughout the county. Interstate 10 remains closed, along with portions of Highways 27, 39 and Medina Highway. Numerous roads in Center Point, including River Road, Sutherland Road, Rancho Road, Indian Creek Road, Spur 100 and Old Harper Highway, are flooded or impassable. Officials also reported Arcadia is completely blocked after floodwaters swept buildings into the roadway, while portions of Fifth Street have been washed away.
City officials continue to urge residents to avoid all unnecessary travel, monitor emergency alerts and follow evacuation orders as floodwaters remain dangerous and additional storms approach.
Water Rescues
By about 2:30 a.m., emergency crews had responded to at least six major water rescue calls in Kerr County. One involved a mother and child trapped near Indian Creek Road in Ingram, but floodwaters prevented firefighters from reaching them. Flooding also made the road between Kerrville and Hunt impassable, limiting access for emergency responders.
Fire departments from Ingram and Kerrville, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety, sheriff’s deputies and other emergency agencies, called in additional personnel as rescue requests mounted.
Campers Safe
Meanwhile, officials with CAMP (Children’s Association for Maximum Potential) said everyone at the camp is safe despite being temporarily cut off by floodwaters. Skyline Drive flooded after a storm surge upstream, but officials said the main camp sits more than 80 feet above the Guadalupe River and all cabins remain dry.
Campers and staff are sheltering in place with power, backup generators, food and essential supplies while remaining in contact with emergency management officials.
Flooding Continues
Authorities also reported street flooding throughout Ingram, warning that many city streets and secondary roads were likely impassable.
In nearby Comfort, residents at an RV park moved trailers to higher ground as sirens sounded and another surge of water approached. Managers said floodwaters reached levels similar to last year’s devastating flood, warning residents to stay put until conditions improve.
Officials warned the flooding remains a life-threatening situation as additional rain continues to move across the region. Forecasters said some locations received 10 to 20 inches of rain over the past two days, with rivers rising more than 30 feet in just a few hours overnight. Additional heavy rain is expected through Friday.
Residents are urged to monitor weather alerts, move to higher ground if flooding threatens and never attempt to drive through flooded roadways.
Disaster Declaration
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly signed a local disaster declaration and formally requested assistance from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as catastrophic flooding continued to impact the county.
A disaster declaration allows local governments to quickly access additional emergency resources, coordinate state assistance and seek reimbursement for emergency response costs.
The declaration comes as Kerr County faces life-threatening flooding, widespread road closures, water rescues and extensive damage caused by rapidly rising waters along the Guadalupe River.
