Emergency crews have suspended the search for flooding victims in Central Texas, amid new flood warnings in the area that might again cause waterways to surge. Forecasters issued warnings of additional flash flooding, after torrential rains last week led to catastrophic conditions and claimed over 100 lives.
Ingram Fire Department officials ordered search crews to immediately evacuate the Guadalupe River corridor in Kerr County until further notice, where search-and-rescue teams have been searching for missing victims of the July 4 weekend flooding — when the Guadalupe River rapidly rose more than 20 feet in the Texas Hill Country. The surge proved especially deadly in Kerr County, where 103 people lost their lives. Authorities say more than 160 people are still missing, according to the Kerrville Police Department.
Videos posted to Instagram show flooding and fallen trees along the Guadalupe River. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that water levels reached 8 to 9 feet in Hunt, Texas, on Sunday morning—well above the 7-foot threshold that marks flood stage.
Meteorologists from the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center anticipate that 3 to 6 inches of rain could fall on Sunday in areas already inundated last week, with potential for flooding in places not yet affected. Strong thunderstorms drifted into northern Llano and Burnet counties, dumping rain at rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour. The National Weather Service issued warnings that flooding was either already occurring or imminent in these areas.
Forecasters also stated that the storm system is expected to continue moving southeast, pushing into the Hill Country and southern parts of the Edwards Plateau; with authorities urging the public to avoid flooded roadways and obey any barricades. In Williamson County, rising water levels in the San Gabriel River prompted officials to issue an alert, warning residents of flash flooding and advising them to stay off the roads. A flash flood warning is active for the northwestern part of the county until 10 a.m.
Kerr County, already devastated by last week’s flooding, remains under a flash flood warning until 11:30 a.m., the city of Kerrville announced via social media. Officials stressed the seriousness of the situation. “This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening emergency. Do not travel unless you are escaping a flood zone or have been ordered to evacuate.”
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