Texas Rescue Teams Race to Find Missing People After Deadly Flood

On July 6, 2025, rescue teams in Kerrville, Texas, mobilized their efforts to search for missing individuals, including children swept away by devastating flash floods caused by torrential rains over the July 4 holiday weekend. The deluge has resulted in at least 78 confirmed deaths, with forecasts of additional rainfall heightening fears for those still unaccounted for. As rescuers worked through the night, they were particularly focused on locating 27 girls from a nearby Christian summer camp.

The flooding was triggered by heavy rainfall that began the night before the Independence Day celebrations, causing the Guadalupe River to rise dramatically—reaching levels comparable to a two-story building within a short span of time. This relentless rise in water inundated various parts of Kerr County, affecting several children’s camps, uprooting trees, and tossing vehicles around as if they were mere toys. Reports describe a scene of chaos, with calls for help coming from families swept away in the horrifying torrent.

As search teams comb through the debris left by the floods, they are organized into small groups to maximize their efforts. One member of the rescue team, Louis Deppe, shared the heartbreak of a family who received a final message from their loved one, Joyce Bandon, as floodwaters threatened their country house. He recounted how their home collapsed in the early morning hours, leaving them vulnerable to the raging waters until communication ceased.

Although the river levels have begun to normalize, the devastation around its banks is stark, with tragic remnants such as a deceased cow caught in the branches and vehicles overturned amidst the destruction. Helicopters are deployed for aerial searches for survivors or additional casualties, while crews in boats patrol the river. Volunteers, including Tina Hambly, are using makeshift tools to search the seven-mile stretch of the river meticulously, hopeful of finding any signs of the missing.

In Hunt, a notably affected area, a local children's summer camp initially reported a large number of kids missing, a figure that currently stands at 11 children and one counselor. Camp cabins lay in disarray, with personal belongings scattered and covered in mud. Amidst the search efforts, some bodies have been located, including one that was found high in a tree, providing families with closures to their tragic losses, as expressed by rescue team member Justin Morales.