Texas Hill Country Floods Kill 135, Survivors Criticize Emergency Response

The July 4 Guadalupe River flood in Texas' Hill Country resulted in over 100 deaths, including 27 children from Camp Mystic, and left the community devastated with lingering questions about emergency preparedness and response. Despite National Weather Service warnings, local officials were criticized for lack of timely alerts and inadequate communication, with some leaders reportedly asleep or absent during the disaster. Survivors shared emotional testimonies about losing loved ones, delayed official responses, and the absence of sufficient rescue efforts, highlighting that many residents received no advance warnings or sirens, which fueled calls for improved flood alert systems. Experts testified that the core issue was not only communication failures but also the lack of flood mitigation infrastructure such as diversion dams in the region. Lawmakers heard accounts of residents left to fend for themselves, with emergency resources failing to reach critical areas like Sandy Creek for days. The tragedy has sparked demands for structural and procedural changes to better protect vulnerable communities from future floods.