On July 4, 2025, what should have been a day of celebration in the Texas Hill Country turned into one of the most tragic events in Central Texas history. As the Guadalupe River overflowed in Kerr County, floodwaters surged through communities, catching residents and officials off guard and leading to a staggering loss of life and property.
According to ABC News, internal communications from the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA)—the local agency responsible for managing water quality and quantity—revealed a sense of initial confusion and disbelief among officials as the crisis unfolded. At 7:09 a.m., one official messaged a UGRA group chat with the words, “Wow!! It’s a beautiful thing!” while sharing a screenshot of a dramatic increase in streamflow levels after prolonged drought. But just half an hour later, the tone shifted drastically. “So I know I said it’s a beautiful thing earlier,” the same official wrote at 7:38 a.m. “I had just woken up and hadn’t looked at the gages yet. It’s terrible.”
By then, floodwaters had already inundated parts of Kerr County for several hours. Flood alerts were in effect, and the Kerrville Police Department was fielding calls for multiple water rescues. As the morning wore on, the human toll of the disaster began to emerge. More than 130 deaths would ultimately be reported across the region, many of them at Camp Mystic—a beloved summer camp along the river. Among those who died were Dick Eastland, the camp’s president and the treasurer of the UGRA board, along with multiple young campers and counselors.
Text messages obtained by ABC News painted a harrowing picture. “The poor children at the camps and their parents,” one official wrote. “And so many people here in RVs for the 4th.” The confusion was compounded by unreliable information: at 9:47 a.m., an official posted, “There are missing people and possibly missing kids from mystic but that is not confirmed.” Less than two hours later, another message said, “They are saying now all camp mystic accounted for. Praise the lord.” But by mid-afternoon, UGRA’s senior leadership realized the situation at Camp Mystic was far more dire than first believed.
As the day wore on, the tragedy’s scale became clear. The flood not only swept away lives but also left behind a community grappling with loss, anger, and questions about preparedness. “I am hopeful they find more survivors tonight, but I assume the worst for the missing,” natural resources specialist Travis Linscomb texted another staffer late that night. “Hopefully this will push the early flood warning topic to the forefront and we get more done this time around.”
In the days that followed, attention turned to the lack of an effective flood warning system in Kerr County—a gap that many believe contributed to the high death toll. Documents reviewed by ABC News revealed that UGRA had long been aware of the risks posed by the Guadalupe River. In fact, the authority had applied for a $1 million grant from the Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund in 2024 to install high water detection systems at 10 low water crossings. The application noted that since 1932, approximately 35 lives had been lost in Kerr County floods, many in vehicles attempting to cross flooded roads.
Yet, in October 2024, UGRA declined to continue pursuing the grant, citing that the project was “only eligible for a 5% grant.” Instead, UGRA entered a $70,000 agreement with a company called Kisters to develop a centralized flood monitoring dashboard, with a kickoff meeting scheduled for mid-July 2025—just days after the disaster. Those plans were abruptly put on hold in the wake of the flood. The fate of the larger, more comprehensive warning system remains unclear, and Kisters did not respond to requests for comment, according to ABC News.
The lack of a robust warning system became a flashpoint for public frustration. As the floodwaters receded, UGRA staff braced for the inevitable outcry. “I have a feeling we’ll be getting lots of calls from very angry people asking why we let this happen because they want someone to blame and I’m going to have no idea what to tell them,” one official wrote the morning after the flood. Another employee lamented, “Some of the comments I’m seeing are saying things along the lines of ‘how is there now [sic] flood warning system in 2025?’ I want so badly to tell them that there is soooooo much more to it than just snapping your fingers and making it happen. Red tape, money, equipment that may not even survive a flood (like we saw today), etc.”
The disaster’s aftermath has also been marked by ongoing recovery efforts. On August 13, 2025, Kendall County officials reported that five weeks after the historic flood, floodwater samples taken from the area remained below the recommended safety level for recreational use. Emergency management officials advised caution, warning that contaminants in the water could pose health risks. “They [the contaminants] can cause a variety of different health issues, ranging from immune problems to even cancer,” Dr. Zoran, co-founder and director of the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team, told KSAT.
Meanwhile, the Texas Division of Emergency Management has shifted its focus to debris removal. County Liaison Officer Scott Haynes updated Kendall County commissioners that approximately 7,300 cubic yards of storm debris had been cleared, but emphasized, “This is a long process. A lot goes into it.” Two contractors, funded by the state, are assisting with debris removal from private properties. Homeowners must complete a Right of Entry form to participate, and contractor representatives have been available at the Golden Age Center in Comfort to help residents navigate the process.
As the community attempts to heal, state lawmakers are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the July 4th floods. The disaster has reignited debate about funding, preparedness, and the responsibilities of local agencies. Some officials argue that bureaucratic hurdles and limited grant eligibility hampered efforts to implement a comprehensive warning system. Others point to longstanding awareness of the region’s vulnerability to flash floods, noting that previous tragedies—such as the Blanco River flood in 2015—failed to spur lasting change.
For many in Kerr and Kendall counties, the events of July 4, 2025, remain raw. The loss of life, particularly among children and families at Camp Mystic, has left scars that will not soon fade. As the community continues to recover, the hope is that the lessons learned will lead to meaningful improvements in flood preparedness—and that future celebrations along the Guadalupe River will be marked by joy rather than tragedy.