Texas Floods Claim 120 Lives as Families Await News of 173 Missing

Texas Floods Claim 120 Lives as Families Await News of 173 Missing. The catastrophic floods that ravaged Central Texas, particularly Kerr County, on July 4, 2025, have left a trail of devastation, with at least 120 people confirmed dead and 173 still unaccounted for across the state. The majority of the fatalities—96—occurred in Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River surged to unprecedented levels, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and lives in a matter of hours. 

As search and rescue teams comb through debris-laden riverbanks and muddy wreckage, families like that of Jermaine Jarmon, who lost his partner and son and is still searching for his missing daughter, are grappling with unbearable uncertainty. Amid the tragedy, questions about the adequacy of disaster preparedness and warning systems have sparked intense scrutiny, prompting Texas officials to pledge a thorough review and legislative action to prevent future calamities.

A Devastating Toll in Kerr County

Kerr County, located in the heart of Texas Hill Country, bore the brunt of the flooding, with the Guadalupe River rising 26 feet in just 45 minutes, transforming serene campgrounds and residential areas into scenes of destruction. The death toll in the county includes 36 children, many of whom were attending Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian summer camp for girls along the river. 

The camp, hosting approximately 750 campers, reported 27 campers and staff members dead, with five campers and a 19-year-old counselor still missing as of July 9. Among the victims was the camp’s director, Dick Eastland, who reportedly died attempting to save children from the rising waters. The scale of the loss has made this one of the deadliest U.S. disasters for children in decades, with stories of heroism and heartbreak emerging daily.

Beyond Kerr County, the floods claimed lives across multiple counties: seven in Travis County, eight in Kendall County, five in Burnet County, three in Williamson County, and one in Tom Green County. Among the victims was Katheryn Eads, a psychology lecturer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, remembered by her daughter Victoria as a devoted educator who spent her life helping children in foster care. 

Her husband, Brian Eads, survived by clinging to a tree but lost his wife to the floodwaters. Similarly, Jermaine Jarmon, a Travis County resident, described the horror of losing his partner, Alissa Martin, and son, Braxton, while his 16-year-old daughter, Felicity, remains missing. “They could have gone up and down the street with sirens,” Jarmon told reporters, highlighting the lack of timely warnings that left his family unprepared.

Search and Rescue Efforts Continue

Search and rescue operations, now in their fifth day, involve over 1,000 local, state, and federal responders, including teams from Mexico and Tennessee, using helicopters, drones, boats, and K9 units to navigate treacherous terrain. The Guadalupe River’s banks, littered with debris from cabins, vehicles, and trees, pose significant challenges, with responders describing the work as “dirty” and “hazardous.” 

In Kerr County alone, 161 people remain missing, a sharp increase from earlier estimates, suggesting the death toll could rise further. Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to continue the search until every missing person is accounted for, emphasizing that the operation remains a 24-hour effort. However, with no survivors found since July 4, hopes of finding more are fading, and many missions are shifting from rescue to recovery.

Volunteers have joined the effort, with residents like Rick McRae using tractors to clear debris and others, like Alma Garcia from San Antonio, providing meals to responders. The community’s resilience is evident, with locals like Mary Stone expressing hope that Kerrville and surrounding Hill Country towns will recover. “It’s devastating,” Stone said, “but I know that we’ll move forward. That’s how this community is.” 

Despite the outpouring of support, the scale of the disaster—exacerbated by the region’s history as “flash flood alley”—has left families like Hailey Chavarria’s in mourning. Chavarria learned that her mother and stepfather’s bodies were recovered, writing on Facebook, “To have her as a mother was a treasure I will forever cherish.”

Questions Surrounding Disaster Response

The rapid rise of the Guadalupe River, fueled by up to 15 inches of rain in some areas, caught residents and officials off guard, despite National Weather Service (NWS) flood watches issued as early as Thursday, July 3. A flash flood warning was issued for Kerr County at 4:06 a.m. on July 4, but local officials did not post alerts on social media until after 6 a.m., when floodwaters were already overwhelming communities. 

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha and City Manager Dalton Rice faced pointed questions about the lack of a warning siren system, a measure considered but abandoned eight years ago due to cost concerns. “We do not have a warning system,” admitted County Judge Rob Kelly, who added, “Rest assured—no one knew this kind of flood was coming.”

Critics, including some residents and experts, have questioned whether cuts to the NWS and federal disaster agencies under the Trump administration contributed to the delayed response. While meteorologist Avery Tomasco defended the NWS, noting timely warnings, others pointed to staffing shortages and unfilled leadership roles at the agency. 

President Trump, who signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County on July 6, dismissed claims of federal shortcomings, calling the flood a “100-year catastrophe” and praising the response efforts. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed this, stating that FEMA is fully engaged in supporting Texas. However, the absence of sirens and delayed evacuations remain contentious, with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick vowing state funding for a warning system by next summer.

Legislative Action and Community Recovery

Governor Abbott, facing criticism for dismissing inquiries about preparedness as “words of losers,” announced a special legislative session starting July 14 to address flood-related issues among other priorities. The agenda includes improving early warning systems, strengthening emergency communications, and enhancing flood preparedness infrastructure. 

However, the session’s broad scope, which also covers tax cuts, hemp regulation, and abortion restrictions, has raised concerns about diluted focus on disaster recovery. Abbott emphasized resilience, stating, “We want to make sure these communities are better, more resilient.” The state’s earlier decision to cut property taxes by $51 billion while underfunding $54 billion in flood management projects has fueled debate about priorities in a region prone to extreme weather.

As Central Texas braces for potential additional rainfall, with the NWS warning of up to 4 inches through July 11, the focus remains on recovery and accountability. The floods have underscored the vulnerability of “flash flood alley,” where thin soil and steep hills amplify runoff. 

Community efforts, bolstered by donations and support from organizations like the Red Cross and local churches, are helping survivors, but the emotional toll is profound. For families like Jermaine Jarmon’s, the wait for news continues, with each day a painful reminder of the lives lost and the long road to rebuilding ahead.

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