A catastrophic flash flood in Texas Hill Country has resulted in a devastating loss of life, with at least 52 people confirmed dead and dozens more missing, including 27 girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River. The floods, which began around 4 AM local time on a Friday, were triggered by heavy rain causing the Guadalupe River to burst its banks. In Kerr County alone, 44 lives were lost, including 15 children and 28 adults, with many swept away near Hunt and Ingram. Other fatalities occurred in Travis County (5 dead), Burnet County (2 dead), and Kendall County (1 dead), with an additional death in San Angelo, Tom Green County.

The intensity of the flood caught many by surprise. The Guadalupe River rose an astonishing 26 feet in less than an hour (or 45 minutes, as some reports state), while one river near Camp Mystic rose 22 feet in just two hours, with its gauge failing after reaching 29.5 feet. This rapid rise swept away homes, camps, and roads. Over 850 people have been rescued by emergency teams, who continue to work around the clock in search of the unaccounted for. Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster and urged prayers for the victims and communities.

Amidst the ongoing rescue efforts, Texas officials are facing intense scrutiny regarding their preparedness and the timeliness of warnings and evacuation orders. AccuWeather, a private forecasting company, stated that it and the National Weather Service (NWS) had issued warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation, urging people to move to higher ground. The NWS later issued rare Flash Flood Emergencies, signifying imminent danger. AccuWeather asserted that these warnings should have provided ample time for officials to evacuate vulnerable camps like Camp Mystic, highlighting Texas Hill Country as one of the most flash-flood-prone areas due to its rugged terrain and numerous water crossings.

However, officials, including Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, stated they had not anticipated such an extreme downpour—equivalent to months' worth of rain in a few short hours—and that earlier forecasts did not predict the severity. Judge Kelly revealed that a flood warning siren system along the Guadalupe River, similar to tornado sirens, had been considered six or seven years prior but was abandoned due to public concern over the cost. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged that the forecast had fallen short, stating a moderate flood watch issued earlier did not accurately predict the extreme rainfall.

The tragedy has also brought criticism regarding presidential cuts to climate and weather organizations. The Donald Trump administration's ordered 800 job cuts at NOAA, the parent organization of the NWS, and a proposed 30% budget cut, have been cited as potentially compromising the ability to prepare for such storms. Professor Costa Samaras, who worked on energy policy at the White House under President Joe Biden, noted that NOAA was in the midst of developing new flood maps, and cuts to its budget would be