Flash Flood Emergencies Trigger Evacuations Across Texas Hill Country

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a series of flash-flood emergency warnings early Thursday for the Guadalupe, Pedernales, Nueces and Frio river basins, citing rapidly rising water levels that could overwhelm bridges and homes.

At Center Point, the Guadalupe River gauge rose 32 feet in four hours, with officials warning that the crest could match the July 4, 2025 flood that caused extensive damage. The river at Comfort increased more than 34 feet in under two hours, prompting immediate evacuation orders for low-lying areas in Kerr, Kendall, Uvalde, Blanco and Gillespie counties.

County officials directed residents in the affected zones to seek higher ground and advised others to avoid travel on state highways and local roads, many of which were closed after being washed out. Rescue teams, including aerial units, responded to multiple water-related incidents, such as a helicopter evacuation of ten people from a barn near Kerrville and the rescue of a stalled vehicle in Kerr County.

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly declared a local disaster, while Uvalde police reported at least 25 water rescues since Tuesday. In Boerne, officials confirmed ongoing high-water rescues, and a second emergency was issued for D'Hanis in Medina County.

Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency for 59 counties on Tuesday, activating the National Guard and other state resources. The Weather Prediction Center raised the flash-flood risk to Level 4 (the highest) for parts of the Hill Country, with additional rain of 2-5 inches expected through Friday.

The same storm system also produced a radar-confirmed tornado near San Antonio, causing damage to a shopping mall but no confirmed injuries.