At least two people died as catastrophic flooding struck Texas Hill Country on July 17, 2026, just over a year after the Guadalupe River disaster killed more than 130 people in the same region.
Extreme rainfall totaling nearly 2 feet in some areas has overwhelmed the Hill Country since Monday afternoon. Leakey recorded 23.37 inches, while Kerrville—hit hard by storms in July 2025—measured 20.71 inches, according to the Weather Prediction Center. The deluge concentrated in Uvalde, Kinney, Bandera, Kerr and Gillespie counties, where totals ranged between 6 and 13 inches, Gov. Greg Abbott said on July 16.
A slow-moving weather pattern promised more heavy rain on July 17, the National Weather Service warned. Fifty-nine Texas counties remained under flood watch.
Record River Levels and Emergency Response
The Nueces River near Uvalde reached a record crest of 28.01 feet on July 16, shattering the 1996 record of 24.88 feet, according to preliminary data. Abbott said the Nueces was expected to reach two times the flow of Niagara Falls. The Guadalupe and Frio rivers also surged to near or over record levels.
More than 230 water rescues have been performed since flooding began. Abbott deployed 2,350 emergency responders and about 1,400 vehicles including helicopters, rescue boats and high-profile vehicles. Texas Game Wardens shared video of responders carrying a small child wearing a life vest and snorkel goggles through floodwaters into a waiting boat. Another video showed helicopter rescues.
Photos from Kerrville showed water from the Guadalupe River covering roads and downed trees. Video shared by Texas Game Wardens showed vehicles submerged and being swept away.
"We're facing record-shattering rainfall that leads to very dangerous flooding. We want to do everything we possibly can to protect all lives," Abbott said.
The Victims
A male near Comfort died after being swept away in an RV, Abbott confirmed on July 16. A female in Uvalde was swept away by floodwaters while driving on a road. The governor didn't release the victims' identities or ages.
Jennie Steward told the Associated Press one victim was her husband, 65-year-old John Mark Steward of Kerrville. She said she was away visiting her parents when she heard from a neighbor that their mobile home had been swept away.
"It's really hard that I wasn't there with him," she told the AP, adding that they'd just celebrated their third anniversary.
Officials urged residents not to drive on any roads covered by water.
Lessons From Last Year's Catastrophe
Flooding over the night and early morning of July 4, 2025, caused the Guadalupe River to pour into surrounding communities, killing more than 130 people. Twenty-eight died at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls.
Abbott said the lessons learned from that flooding event have served to prevent more catastrophe this time, though the behavior of the water along riverfront campgrounds is different than it was then. Early on, over 80 people were cleared from campgrounds. Flood warning systems installed after the 2025 flooding were activated, he said.
Why This Matters:
The death toll remains remarkably lower than last year's catastrophe, demonstrating how state investment in flood warning systems and emergency preparedness can save lives when disaster strikes. Abbott's deployment of 2,350 responders and swift evacuation of campgrounds shows how government can effectively coordinate emergency response without expanding its permanent footprint. The infrastructure improvements made after 2025's tragedy—warning systems that were activated this time—represent targeted, practical investment rather than sprawling regulatory expansion. Yet two deaths and hundreds of rescues underscore the limits of even the best preparation against nature's fury. The economic toll on Hill Country communities, many still recovering from last year's disaster, will test the resilience of local businesses and property owners who can't simply wait for government assistance to rebuild.