Search for flood victims slowed by mountains of debris as thousands descend on Kerr County to assist

Latest News

• Did fiscal conservatism block plans for a new flood warning system in Kerr County?

  By Terri Langford and Dan Keemahill 9 hours ago

  In the last nine years, federal funding for a system has been denied to the county as it contends with a tax base hostile to government overspending. Full Story 

• The floods swept away a young couple and their friends. Searching for them brought their families together.

  By Jessica Shuran Yu, Atirikta Kumar and Sneha Dey 11 hours ago

  The four friends are among the hundreds of victims. The bodies of three of them have been found. Their families have searched for their loved ones since Friday. Full Story 

• Inside the negotiations on Trump’s GOP megabill, from the Lubbock lawmaker whose name is on the legislation

  By Owen Dahlkamp July 10, 2025

  The House budget chair and lead sponsor of the GOP tax and spending bill recounts the months of negotiations needed to unite the fractious caucus. Full Story 

• Kerrville community unites in mourning and prayer for those lost and missing in Texas floods

  By Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Sneha Dey July 10, 2025

  Amid staggering loss, hundreds gathered in mourning and prayer at a Wednesday night vigil for the victims of the July Fourth floods. Full Story 

• Kerrville mayor says he wasn’t aware of state resources that Gov. Abbott said were in place ahead of flooding

  By Colleen DeGuzman Updated: July 9, 2025

  The governor said Tuesday that the state had “assets, resources and personnel” in place before the July 4 floods. On Wednesday evening, the death toll rose to 120. Full Story 

• Gov. Abbott orders special session on Hill Country flooding, redistricting, THC and unfinished GOP priorities

  By Eleanor Klibanoff and Alejandro Serrano July 9, 2025

  The Republican governor laid out an ambitious agenda that includes an unexpected array of conservative bills that failed during the regular session. Full Story 

• Climate change helped fuel heavy rains that caused Hill Country floods, experts say

  By Arcelia Martin, Inside Climate News July 9, 2025

  Warming ocean temperatures and warmer air mean there’s more water vapor in the atmosphere to fuel extreme downpours like those that struck Texas during the July 4 weekend. Full Story 

• SpaceX wins OK to build plant that creates liquid oxygen for rockets near South Texas beach

  By Berenice Garcia July 9, 2025

  Cameron County commissioners approved the request this week over the objection of some residents and SpaceX critics. Full Story 

• Sirens, gauges and flood prevention: What the Texas Legislature could do in response to Hill Country disaster

  By Eleanor Klibanoff July 9, 2025

  Gov. Greg Abbott has promised to add flood response to the agenda for the July 21 special session, with an expected focus on alert systems and local recovery. Full Story 

• “Disasters are a human choice”: Texas counties have little power to stop building in flood-prone areas

  By Joshua Fechter and Paul Cobler, Graphics by Carla Astudillo July 9, 2025

  Experts suggested that more data and education are needed as Texas and the rest of the country build in known flood plains. Full Story 

• As Guadalupe River flows calm, evidence of its destructive force remains

  By Carlos Nogueras Ramos July 8, 2025

  Hill Country residents and volunteers on Tuesday continued picking up the pieces that the deadly waterway left behind days earlier. Full Story 

• Texas Education Agency to release schools’ 2024 performance ratings after court ruling

  By Sneha Dey and Jaden Edison Updated: July 8, 2025

  An appeals court granted the state approval to release the ratings after doing the same for 2023 scores in April. Full Story 

• Weather warnings gave officials a 3 hour, 21 minute window to save lives in Kerr County. What happened then remains unclear.

  By Emily Foxhall July 8, 2025

  Federal forecasters issued their first flood warning at 1:14 a.m. on July 4. Local officials haven’t shed light on when they saw the warnings or whether they saw them in time to take action. Full Story 

• Randall County GOP chair charged with felony election fraud

  By Jess Huff July 8, 2025

  Kelly Kenten Giles, 64, is accused of providing false information on his application and petition to run for the Randall County Republican Party Chair seat. Full Story 

• Hill Country flooding: Here’s how to give and receive help

  By Texas Tribune Staff Updated: July 8, 2025

  Flooding in Central Texas and the Texas Hill Country has killed at least 119 people, with 161 still missing in Kerr County. Rescue crews are still searching for missing people as more rain is expected. Here is a guide on how to help those affected. Full Story 

• Texas officials say more than 160 people still missing from floods that killed over 100 others

  By Sneha Dey, Alejandro Serrano, Jayme Lozano Carver, Eleanor Klibanoff and Colleen DeGuzman Updated: July 8, 2025

  Gov. Greg Abbott vowed Tuesday to continue rescue and recovery efforts in the flood-ravaged Hill Country “until every missing person is accounted for.” Full Story