In brief
Heavy rains have triggered a rapid rise in the Guadalupe River, leaving at least one person dead and making it the most lethal flood event in the region since the July 2026 disaster that claimed 130 lives. Gov. Greg Abbott reported a single fatality, while rescue teams have already completed about 80 rescues. The same stretch of the river that swept Camp Mystic’s 25 children last year is again flooding, with authorities urging residents to move to higher ground as the river climbs more than 30 feet in hours. The National Weather Service has issued repeated alerts and urges people to evacuate immediately. This unprecedented event is a stark reminder of Texas’s vulnerability to severe weather and the urgent need for preparedness measures.
At least one dead in Texas floods, echoing last summer’s disaster
Heavy rain over San Antonio and South Texas has spurred a rapid rise in the Guadalupe River. At least one person has been confirmed dead, the first fatality in this round of flooding that follows the fatal July 2026 event that claimed more than 130 lives along the same river.
The National Weather Service warned that the river would “rapidly rise” and urged residents in affected counties—Uvalde, Kerr and Kendall—to evacuate. Gov. Greg Abbott posted an update on social media, stating the state has made 80 rescues and that the lone fatality was not a camper. He emphasized, “We will be doing everything possible to save human life.”
The river had already risen 32 ft (975 cm) in a four‑hour span, a record that inflamed memories of Camp Mystic’s tragedy. That summer, the river swelled 26 ft in about 45 minutes, taking 25 children by forceful currents and leaving the camp shut and bankrupt.
The National Weather Service continues to post urgent alerts on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “CATASTROPHIC flooding is occurring. Move to higher ground now! Guadalupe River is rapidly rising and will continue!” Emergency officials are calling for a mass evacuation and about 70% of the county’s population remains under a shelter-in‑place order.
Local news and the Texas Tribune are corroborating the flood’s height and the number of rescues. The most recent image, captured from the Texas Tribune’s photo feed, shows floodwaters covering the Rodeo Los Corrales Dance Hall in Comfort.
