Blab News
Central Texas Floods Claim Two Lives, Disrupt Communities Amid Record Rainfall
On Thursday, July 16, 2026, a flash‑flooding event that rippled across Central and South Texas claimed two lives and triggered evacuations across several counties. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the fatalities in separate news conferences. The first victim, a 65‑year‑old Kerr County resident, was swept from his mobile home by rising waters on the Guadalupe River. The second, a 74‑year‑old Uvalde County man, was carried from his vehicle near the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 North and County Road 400.
A slow‑moving storm system unleashed record rainfall—more than 24 inches in several spots—setting the highest totals in Texas since 1900. Ingram logged 24.38 inches, Leakey 23.37 inches, and Kerrville 19.54 inches. Following the storm, the National Weather Service (NWS) declared a flash‑flood emergency for Kerr and Kendall counties, covering Kerrville, Center Point and Comfort. The alert was extended through Friday morning to the Hill Country and parts of South Texas, including Bandera, Blanco, Gillespie, Kerr, Llano, Medina, Real and Uvalde counties.
The Guadalupe River, cutting through the Hill Country, surged to 37.08 feet at Comfort, eclipsing last year’s 35‑foot crest. Within a little over an hour, the river rose more than 27 feet, generating a “large and deadly flood wave” downstream. At Fredericksburg, the Pedernales River peaked at 34.23 feet, and the Johnson City river approached 21 feet before dipping below flood stage early Friday.
To mitigate the surge, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) opened floodgates at Wirtz Dam on Lake LBJ and Starcke Dam on Lake Marble Falls, channeling runoff into Lake Travis. The LCRA projected that by Friday, Lake Travis would reach 680–681 feet above mean sea level, a level that could trigger its flood pool.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens led rescue efforts across eight counties. By 3 p.m. Thursday, they had assisted 147 residents and evacuated 83 people, including five animals. Wardens deployed boats, vehicles and helicopters to reach those stranded in flooded homes or vehicles.
Kerrville officials noted that, despite a power outage that knocked the city’s surface‑water treatment plant offline, no boil‑water notice was issued. The city relied on groundwater wells and kept water pressure stable. The emergency operations center was activated just after 2 a.m., and officials monitored conditions through the Upper Guadalupe River Authority’s warning system.
The NWS cautioned that flood waves were progressing downstream along several rivers. A wave had reached western Llano County on the Llano River, Stonewall on the Pedernales River, and eastern Kendall County on the Guadalupe River. The agency also reported that the Medina River had entered Bandera, and that the Nueces and Frio Rivers in Uvalde County were rising above major flood stage.
Shelters opened in affected communities. In Fredericksburg, the First Baptist Church housed residents, while Austin Pets Alive! and its partner Kerrville Pets Alive! rescued dozens of animals from Kendall County and Boerne.
Governor Abbott announced that over 230 people had been rescued and 87 roadways were closed. He also mentioned that a flash‑flood emergency had been issued for the Pedernales River in Gillespie County.
Transportation suffered disruptions, with several bridges closed pending inspections. The Texas Department of Transportation warned that Highway 87 South would become impassable. Residents were urged to stay home, avoid low‑water crossings and rely on verified sources for emergency information.
The event follows the July 4, 2025, flood that claimed 135 lives in the Hill Country. Officials and residents are now assessing damage and preparing for the next phase of recovery.
As of Thursday evening, the situation remains fluid. The NWS continues to monitor river levels and forecast additional rainfall. The LCRA monitors Lake Travis, while state and federal agencies coordinate ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
The incident underscores the Texas Hill Country’s vulnerability to flash flooding and the critical importance of timely warnings and coordinated emergency response.
A slow‑moving storm system unleashed record rainfall—more than 24 inches in several spots—setting the highest totals in Texas since 1900. Ingram logged 24.38 inches, Leakey 23.37 inches, and Kerrville 19.54 inches. Following the storm, the National Weather Service (NWS) declared a flash‑flood emergency for Kerr and Kendall counties, covering Kerrville, Center Point and Comfort. The alert was extended through Friday morning to the Hill Country and parts of South Texas, including Bandera, Blanco, Gillespie, Kerr, Llano, Medina, Real and Uvalde counties.
The Guadalupe River, cutting through the Hill Country, surged to 37.08 feet at Comfort, eclipsing last year’s 35‑foot crest. Within a little over an hour, the river rose more than 27 feet, generating a “large and deadly flood wave” downstream. At Fredericksburg, the Pedernales River peaked at 34.23 feet, and the Johnson City river approached 21 feet before dipping below flood stage early Friday.
To mitigate the surge, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) opened floodgates at Wirtz Dam on Lake LBJ and Starcke Dam on Lake Marble Falls, channeling runoff into Lake Travis. The LCRA projected that by Friday, Lake Travis would reach 680–681 feet above mean sea level, a level that could trigger its flood pool.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens led rescue efforts across eight counties. By 3 p.m. Thursday, they had assisted 147 residents and evacuated 83 people, including five animals. Wardens deployed boats, vehicles and helicopters to reach those stranded in flooded homes or vehicles.
Kerrville officials noted that, despite a power outage that knocked the city’s surface‑water treatment plant offline, no boil‑water notice was issued. The city relied on groundwater wells and kept water pressure stable. The emergency operations center was activated just after 2 a.m., and officials monitored conditions through the Upper Guadalupe River Authority’s warning system.
The NWS cautioned that flood waves were progressing downstream along several rivers. A wave had reached western Llano County on the Llano River, Stonewall on the Pedernales River, and eastern Kendall County on the Guadalupe River. The agency also reported that the Medina River had entered Bandera, and that the Nueces and Frio Rivers in Uvalde County were rising above major flood stage.
Shelters opened in affected communities. In Fredericksburg, the First Baptist Church housed residents, while Austin Pets Alive! and its partner Kerrville Pets Alive! rescued dozens of animals from Kendall County and Boerne.
Governor Abbott announced that over 230 people had been rescued and 87 roadways were closed. He also mentioned that a flash‑flood emergency had been issued for the Pedernales River in Gillespie County.
Transportation suffered disruptions, with several bridges closed pending inspections. The Texas Department of Transportation warned that Highway 87 South would become impassable. Residents were urged to stay home, avoid low‑water crossings and rely on verified sources for emergency information.
The event follows the July 4, 2025, flood that claimed 135 lives in the Hill Country. Officials and residents are now assessing damage and preparing for the next phase of recovery.
As of Thursday evening, the situation remains fluid. The NWS continues to monitor river levels and forecast additional rainfall. The LCRA monitors Lake Travis, while state and federal agencies coordinate ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
The incident underscores the Texas Hill Country’s vulnerability to flash flooding and the critical importance of timely warnings and coordinated emergency response.
