On what was supposed to be a fun and peaceful July 4th weekend, disaster struck the Texas Hill Country without warning. In the middle of the night, a flash flood tore through the area near the Guadalupe River, sweeping away RVs, cabins, and everything in its path — including people.
There was no hurricane. No major storm warning. Just rain — a lot of it — that suddenly turned deadly. In just a few hours, the Guadalupe River rose nearly 30 feet. People were asleep in their RVs and tents when the water hit. Many never had a chance to react.
In towns like Hunt and Kerrville, the flood left behind scenes of total destruction. Concrete pads were ripped out of the ground. RVs were tossed like toys and wrapped around trees. Everything that made up busy campsites and family getaways was gone.
One survivor said it was like a hurricane came through, except this storm had no name and gave no time to prepare. “We thought we’d wake up to fireworks,” another said. “Instead, we woke up to water pouring in.”
People screamed, banged on doors, and tried to wake their neighbors. If you were lucky, someone got to you. If not, the flood did. Car alarms blared underwater. Families grabbed pets and ran out with nothing but what they were wearing.
The forecast had predicted up to 6 inches of rain — but double that amount fell in some places. The ground couldn’t handle it. The river turned into a wall of water, catching hundreds by surprise.
There were summer camps all along the river, and some had dozens of children unaccounted for. In one camp, officials said around 20 girls were missing at one point. Parents rushed to a nearby elementary school, hoping to hear their child’s name called. Some were reunited in emotional scenes; others are still waiting.
In the town of Hunt, military rescue trucks were used to get to trapped residents. Helicopters flew overhead, searching for survivors. More than 237 people were rescued on the first day, including 167 by helicopter, many of them children.
One woman described how she and her family were about to climb onto their roof using tied bedsheets when the water finally stopped rising. Another said the only reason she wasn’t caught in the flood was because she had to go to work at 5 a.m. “I was complaining about being up so early, but it might have saved my life,” she said.
Entire apartment buildings were moved off their foundations by the power of the water. Trees were the only thing strong enough to stop them.
In some areas, 4 months’ worth of rain fell in just 6 hours. The floodwaters reached heights not seen in decades. The local river gauge — the tool used to measure water levels — broke from the pressure. One family’s home took on two feet of water in under 15 minutes.
At least 18 summer camps were hit hard. And across the region, people are still searching for missing family members. Homemade tombstones were set up by grieving families. In some places, protesters held “die-ins” to draw attention to the loss of life.
Search efforts are still underway. Rescue teams and helicopters are flying day and night along the river, refusing to stop until everyone is found.
Just like the devastating 1987 flood, this one came with almost no warning — and during a holiday, when camps and riverside homes were full of people. The Guadalupe River is known for being a peaceful vacation spot. But when it turns violent, it shows just how dangerous nature can be.
Still, as one survivor put it: “Houses are replaceable. Cars are replaceable. People are not.”
This was a nightmare that hit when everyone thought they were safe. And now, families across Texas Hill Country are left to rebuild, grieve, and search for answers.