Texas Flood Recovery Stalled as Rain Returns \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Rain again halted search efforts Monday for missing people in Texas after devastating July 4 floods. Officials are planning to drain reservoirs to aid recovery as over 160 remain unaccounted for. With rising criticism and threats, authorities ask for public patience amid severe weather risks.
Quick Looks
- Search efforts paused again Monday due to forecasted storms
- Over 170 people still missing, most from Kerr County
- Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in deadly July 4 flood
- Officials plan to drain reservoirs to find sunken trailers
- Sonar teams scanning riverbeds for submerged vehicles and homes
- FEMA and local crews working under unified emergency command
- Volunteers urged to evacuate flood zones and await clearance
- Local leaders face threats, accused of failing to give warnings
- More heavy rain forecast through Monday and into Tuesday
- Flood exceeded FEMA’s 100-year projection, with no warning system in place
Deep Look
For the second consecutive day, recovery teams in Texas were forced to suspend some search efforts due to threatening rain and unstable conditions in areas devastated by catastrophic flooding over the July 4 holiday. Monday brought renewed anxiety to residents and rescuers alike as forecasters warned of another wave of storms rolling through the already saturated Texas Hill Country — complicating the search for more than 170 people still unaccounted for.
The initial pause in operations began Sunday, following weather alerts across Kerr County and surrounding areas where rapid water runoff and unstable terrain increased the risk to search crews. Officials resumed limited activity along the Guadalupe River on Monday but stressed that further rainfall would again threaten safety and efficiency. In preparation, authorities began drafting plans to drain two key reservoir lakes to access submerged vehicles and structures swept away in the flood.
“Trailer After Trailer” Lost in the Flood
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly described the devastation as overwhelming. “We’ve heard accounts of trailer after trailer after trailer being swept into the river with families in them. Can’t find the trailers,” he told officials during a public meeting Monday. He noted that one trailer was discovered buried under 27 feet of gravel, demonstrating the sheer power of the floodwaters. Search operations, led in part by sonar-equipped FEMA teams and local fire departments, have focused on the riverbeds and adjacent lakes — but the scope of the disaster continues to grow.
Commissioner Don Harris acknowledged that many trailers and vehicles could be completely hidden beneath debris or sediment, prompting the drastic decision to lower reservoir levels for deeper inspection.
A Race Against the Weather
The National Weather Service forecast 1 to 2 inches of rain in Kerr County by Monday evening, potentially triggering more flooding. Meteorologist Bob Fogarty warned that conditions “are not going to be good,” especially with a flood watch in effect through 9 p.m. A separate line of thunderstorms was moving in from the west, threatening another round of downpours overnight and into Tuesday.
Volunteer search efforts were suspended again as the Ingram Volunteer Fire Department pulled its teams from the field. “Everybody here wants to be out there working,” said spokesperson Levi Bizzell. “They just want to find closure for these families.” Over 200 volunteers had joined the effort, but Kerr County has since restricted access to emergency response teams under a unified command system for safety.
Mounting Frustration and Threats
In Kerrville, just 100 miles west of Austin, public frustration is growing. Local officials are facing backlash — and even death threats — over alleged failures to properly warn residents before the flash floods. Commissioner Rich Paces said he’s received threats over perceptions of inaction, and Kerrville City Council members echoed concerns about security for staff. Councilmember Brenda Hughes revealed that individual city staff members have been targeted, prompting calls for enhanced safety at City Hall.
Authorities pushed emergency alerts to residents the night before the latest storms, and even went door-to-door in flood-prone areas, but for many, the warnings have come too late. July 4’s devastation caught most victims off guard, and in hindsight, no county-wide flood warning system was in place to prepare the public.
The Human Toll and Infrastructure Damage
The disaster has taken a heavy toll. According to Ashley Johnson of the Hill Country Community Action Association, the flooding destroyed at least 100 homes, with untold miles of cattle fencing and other rural infrastructure swept away. “Anything you can imagine in a rural community was damaged,” she said, emphasizing that “our blessing is it was daylight and we knew it was coming.”
But for many, the most painful losses came during the July 4th flood, which struck before dawn and overwhelmed riverbanks across Kerr County. The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in hours, submerging homes, vehicles, and entire campgrounds. Among the worst-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a 100-year-old Christian girls’ summer camp. Officials confirmed that at least 27 campers and staff are missing or dead, though final figures remain unverified due to the chaos and slow search progress.
The flood exceeded what FEMA models define as a 100-year flood event, and without effective early warning systems, many had no chance to evacuate. Authorities continue to rely on helicopters, boats, and drones to aid the painstaking search, while grief-stricken families wait for word.
Legal and Emergency Response Complexities
Legal and governmental response is intensifying. FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue Blue Team has now fully resumed operations, working in coordination with local and state agencies. The storm’s fallout has already prompted statewide rescue efforts in nearby counties including San Saba, Lampasas, and Schleicher, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
As officials rush to find answers — and victims — the emotional and political fallout continues. With more rain expected through mid-week, the timeline for recovery remains uncertain. For residents, responders, and grieving families, the race against time and weather continues in one of the deadliest floods in recent Texas history.
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