3 days ago
Texas search efforts halted as fresh storms sweep Hill Country
Emergency crews have paused operations in Kerr County today following a new surge of torrential rain across Central Texas that renewed flood risks and prompted evacuations. Authorities withdrew search teams from river corridors, citing a high likelihood of flash flooding.
The decision came as weather alerts signalled up to two inches of rainfall per hour in parts of Kerrville and along the Guadalupe River, overwhelming swollen tributaries and raising the threat level for crews working in the region. Sheriff's personnel and fire department officials issued door‑to‑door warnings and activated emergency alerts early Sunday to hasten evacuations from low‑lying zones and roads prone to overtopping.
Statewide, the second round of storms extinguished search operations underway since the flash floods of July 4, which inflicted catastrophic damage across multiple counties and claimed at least 132 lives. Kerr County remains the hardest‑hit, with more than 160 individuals still unaccounted for. The weather's intensification halted searches for victims along the Guadalupe River, though crews managed to resume efforts later in the afternoon in western parts of Kerr County once conditions abated.
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Elsewhere, counties such as San Saba, Lampasas, Menard, Kimble and Sutton reported widespread flooding, forcing more than 100 home evacuations under mandatory or voluntary orders. In San Saba County alone, rising waters triggered mandatory displacement of residents south of the San Saba River, with expectations that it could crest beyond 31 feet, wreaking further havoc on infrastructure.
Texas Task Force 1, along with local emergency services and volunteers, conducted numerous rescue missions, retrieving dozens of stranded individuals from RV parks and senior residences in Lampasas and Kimble counties. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that 'dozens' more people were rescued Sunday as crews battled rising waters in San Saba, Lampasas and Schleicher counties.
Amid ongoing emergency response, concern is mounting about the region's flood‑alert infrastructure. Kerr County has faced criticism for lacking independent warning systems; federal grant applications to install such systems had previously been rejected, and sirens or alert protocols were not implemented ahead of the July 4 surge. During Sunday's fresh rainfall, responders emphasised the need for improved systems as rivers threatened to swell unexpectedly.
Meteorologists attributed both the catastrophic July 4 event and the present weekend downpours to a mesoscale convective vortex channeling tropical moisture remnants from Storm Barry. The July storms unleashed several months' worth of rainfall in mere hours, sending the Guadalupe River racing upward by more than 26 feet within 45 minutes and cresting at over 37 feet in Hunt. Sunday's rainfall, while less extreme, fell upon ground still saturated from the earlier deluge, prolonging flash flood conditions.
Local communities are bracing for continued disruption. San Saba implemented mandatory evacuation in flood‑prone areas, sheltering displaced residents at its civic centre. Lampasas and Sonora authorities also opened emergency shelters and orchestrated rescues as water levels rose unexpectedly.
Emergency teams — comprising helicopters, boats, drones, and ground crews — remain primed to restart search operations when it is deemed safe. The Ingram Fire Department has indicated that river corridor searches could resume Monday if water levels permit. Officials have urged the public to avoid river crossings, low‑lying roads and previously flooded zones until all-clear signals are issued.
New Texas flood threat halts search for victims of deadly July 4 flooding
