Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly has advised concerned parents with children attending summer camps in the area to contact the camps directly for updates regarding their safety amid the ongoing flooding crisis. “I don’t know any specifics about any of the individual camps. What I do know is that everyone is doing their very best,” Kelly emphasized during a recent press conference.
When questioned about the warning systems that might have been in place Thursday night into Friday morning, Judge Kelly acknowledged, “We do not have a warning system.” He further clarified, “We didn’t know this flood was coming. Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming.” Kelly noted that although floods are common in the region, this particular event exceeded expectations. “This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States, and we deal with floods on a regular basis… We had no reason to suspect that this was going to be anything like what’s happened here. None whatsoever,” he stated.
Judge Kelly confirmed that the flooding has been “devastating and deadly,” but did not disclose the number of casualties. “I’ve been advised not to use any numbers. We do have some numbers. But we’re not going to use them at this time,” he mentioned, adding that officials will conduct another news conference later in the day. He also noted that authorities are currently in the process of identifying flood victims at a local morgue, stating, “We’re trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don’t have it yet.”
Mayor Joe Herring of Kerrville, Texas, which is significantly affected by the flooding, reported that the water levels rose sharply during the night, catching many residents off guard. “This came at night when people were asleep in bed,” he remarked during the press conference. He took a moment to express gratitude to first responders, saying, “Thank you to the first responders who are working to save lives and property.”
According to recent census data, approximately 53,900 people reside in Kerr County, which is located in central Texas, northwest of San Antonio. The county includes cities such as Ingram and Kerrville, the latter being the largest city and situated along the Guadalupe River. As severe flooding and widespread rainfall are forecasted to continue, the community remains vigilant.
The Guadalupe River experienced a dramatic rise of about 22 feet in just one hour early Friday morning, skyrocketing from 3:45 a.m. to 4:45 a.m. CT near Kerrville. However, by 8 a.m. CT, water levels had receded by approximately 12 feet. The river reached its second-highest level on record near Hunt, though the gauge that recorded this level suffered damage due to flooding shortly thereafter.
Central Texas has seen at least four flash flood emergencies since 4 a.m. CT, marking the latest in a series of dangerous floods impacting the state this year. As climate change continues to influence weather patterns, flash flood emergencies are becoming increasingly common. A recent study indicated that nearly 90% of major U.S. cities have experienced an increase in hourly rainfall rates since 1970.
In response to the catastrophic flooding, Judge Kelly issued a disaster declaration for the entire county on Friday. The declaration warns that the devastation could worsen, stating that the severe weather “has caused widespread and severe damage, injury, and loss of life, and poses an imminent threat of doing more of the same.”
The county’s disaster declaration underscores the active response from emergency crews throughout Kerr County, who are working tirelessly to address ongoing calls for assistance and rescues. The National Weather Service has warned that the Guadalupe River is currently experiencing a “large and deadly flood wave,” indicating rapid rises in water levels in various parts of the river over time.
Central Texas is prone to sudden flooding, with recently recorded rainfall exceeding an entire summer's worth in just a few hours, which overwhelmed dry ground conditions. For instance, San Angelo typically receives about an inch of rain in July but experienced between 2 to 10 inches overnight. Meanwhile, Hunt in Kerr County recorded approximately 6.5 inches of rain in just three hours early Friday, marking it as a rare 1-in-100-year event.
