Texas Floods Kill 2 as Lessons From 2025 Save Hundreds
Catastrophic flash flooding across South Central Texas has claimed at least two lives, but dramatically improved warning systems, earlier evacuations, and heightened public awareness prevented a repeat of the devastating 2025 floods that killed 139 people. Over 570 rescues have been conducted across the region as rivers reached perilous heights.
The Flooding Crisis
Days of relentless heavy rainfall from July 14–18 dumped up to 30 inches of rain across the Texas Hill Country, an area known as “Flash Flood Alley” and considered one of the nation’s most dangerous regions for flooding. The Guadalupe River at Comfort rose an astonishing 32 feet in just three hours on July 16 — from 5.46 feet at 5 a.m. to 37.05 feet at 8:05 a.m., slightly exceeding the 2025 record of 35.64 feet, according to NPR.
Four locations measured more than two feet of rain between Monday and Friday — totals that federal scientists say have only a 0.2% chance of occurring in a given year.
Lives Lost, Hundreds Rescued
The two confirmed victims include John Mark Steward, 65, of Kerrville, who was swept away in an RV near Comfort along the Guadalupe River, and a 74-year-old man in Uvalde County who was swept away while driving across a flooded roadway.
State-coordinated rescues exceeded 270, while local officials in Uvalde and Zavala regions rescued an additional 300 people, bringing the total to more than 570. Over 2,700 personnel and 1,500 vehicles, aircraft, and boats were deployed across 30 state agencies, as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor.
Why the Death Toll Was Dramatically Lower
Despite rainfall comparable to — and in some areas exceeding — the 2025 disaster, the death toll dropped from 139 to 2. The Texas Tribune identified several critical factors that made the difference.
Improved Warning Systems: After the 2025 tragedy, the Texas Legislature passed sweeping safety requirements for summer youth camps and warning siren mandates for flood-prone areas. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority installed six flood warning sirens in Kerr County, and a new public dashboard called RiverHub launched, combining real-time river, rainfall, and weather data from a network of newly installed gauges.
“That saved lives yesterday, without a doubt,” Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring said. “The difference [from 2025] is we did not have a warning system in place that could tell us the magnitude of the problem heading our way.”
Storm Timing and Duration: Unlike the 2025 overnight disaster that struck during the July 4 holiday weekend, the 2026 storms unfolded over multiple days with periods of lighter weather between rounds. The worst flooding occurred during daylight hours, giving forecasters and emergency managers valuable lead time. This year’s event also occurred mid-week, meaning fewer visitors unfamiliar with local flood risks were in the area.
Heightened Public Awareness: Last year’s tragedy remained “so fresh in everybody’s memory,” as Center Point resident Kay Steadham told the Tribune. Residents took emergency alerts more seriously this time. Governor Greg Abbott noted that more than 80 people were evacuated from campgrounds before rivers began to rise — a direct result of lessons learned from 2025.
Government Response
Gov. Greg Abbott declared a major disaster for 28 counties on July 17 and requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration from President Donald Trump to unlock federal relief funds. “The Uvalde Community was hit very hard, but its residents are strong and resilient,” Abbott said during a press conference in Uvalde.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller also declared an agricultural emergency due to drowned livestock and flooded crops, while the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country launched a flood relief fund for the 10-county region.
Ongoing Threats
While the worst of the rain has passed, officials warned that rivers will continue rising for days as water flows downstream. The Devil’s River was expected to reach major flooding, and the Rio Grande was forecast to hit major flooding levels on Sunday, with Laredo warned to prepare for moderate flooding. The Nueces and Frio Rivers were also expected to rise downstream.
“The main lesson is this sort of thing can happen again, and we won’t know when,” said Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, as reported by the Texas Tribune.
Climate Context
Climate scientists noted that the consecutive-year extreme floods fit a broader pattern. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, told the Tribune that climate change is making heavy downpours more likely because warmer air can hold more moisture. Intense subtropical and tropical downpours in thunderstorms may be the fastest increasing type of extreme rainfall, scientists have found.
What to Watch For
As cleanup begins and rivers continue to rise downstream, the focus now shifts to recovery and rebuilding. Abbott’s request for a federal disaster declaration will determine the scale of federal assistance available to affected communities. The Texas Hill Country Flood Relief Fund is already accepting donations to support the 10-county region as residents begin the long process of recovery.