Anthony R. O’Donnell // July 11, 2025 
(Floodwaters engulf the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, Texas, July 2025. Source: USCG.)
In early July 2025, Central Texas endures a catastrophe so sudden and violent that it shocks seasoned meteorologists and emergency managers alike. Over just a few days, remnants of Tropical Storm Barry unleash torrential rains across the Hill Country, dropping as much as 20 inches of water and causing the Guadalupe River to surge more than 20 feet in under an hour.
The floods claim at least 121 lives statewide. Kerr County alone loses 96 people—many of them children