Catastrophic flash floods devastated parts of Texas over the US Independence Day weekend, with the death toll reaching at least 59, including many children. The central Texas area, specifically Kerr County in the Texas Hill Country, became the epicenter of the disaster after torrential rain on Friday caused the Guadalupe River to break its banks, surging rapidly by as much as 29 feet (9 meters) in just 45 minutes.

A critical focus of the search and rescue efforts has been Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian summer camp for girls situated on the Guadalupe River. At the time of the flood, some 700 to 750 girls were in residence. Eleven girls and a counselor from the camp remained missing as of Sunday, three days after the disaster struck. The camp was left in a state of utter devastation, with mud lines indicating water levels at least six feet (1.83 meters) high inside cabins, and bed frames, mattresses, and personal belongings caked in mud. Windows were shattered, and some buildings had missing walls, reflecting the immense force of the floodwaters. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick sadly stated that the death toll was expected to rise, while Governor Greg Abbott described Camp Mystic as "horrendously ravaged in ways unlike I've seen in any natural disaster," vowing to continue search efforts until every missing person is found.

Beyond the camp, search operations were extensive, with over 850 people rescued, some found clinging to trees. Law enforcement officials also noted 18 adults and four children pending identification, though it was unclear if these were already included in the initial death count. The region, colloquially known as "Flash Flood Alley," typically experiences such events when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall. However, scientists suggest that human-driven climate change has contributed to more frequent and intense extreme weather events in recent years.

The severity of the floods also sparked a debate regarding preparedness and warnings. Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro raised concerns that job cuts within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its agency, the National Weather Service (NWS), under the Trump administration, might have contributed to a failure to accurately predict the flood's intensity and issue timely warnings. Former NOAA director Rick Spinrad echoed these concerns, stating that understaffed weather offices could inevitably degrade forecasting abilities. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees NOAA, acknowledged that a "moderate" flood watch issued on Thursday had not accurately predicted the extreme rainfall, and stated that the Trump administration was working to upgrade the system, emphasizing the need to "renew this ancient system" at the weather service.

As recovery efforts continued, more rain was expected in the area, with a flood watch issued for Kerr County. Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested President Trump to sign a disaster declaration, which would unlock crucial federal aid for those affected, a request Noem assured would be honored. Despite Trump's previously outlined plans for states to shoulder more of the burden for natural disaster response, the community rallied, with local Texans joining disaster officials in the round-the-clock search for survivors and bodies.