Kerrville flooding sparks flash flood emergency in Kerr County
Kerrville flooding has escalated into a National Weather Service flash flood emergency covering Hunt and Kerrville, with evacuations, water rescues, and homes taking on water as the Guadalupe River surged. Officials urge higher ground when safe and warn against driving flooded roads while heavy rain continues across the Texas Hill Country.
Key Takeaways
- A flash flood emergency covers Hunt and Kerrville as water enters homes and rescues continue.
- The Guadalupe River near Hunt rose more than 10 feet in about an hour early Thursday.
- Hunt, Flaming Arrow, Indian Creek, and Old Ingram Loop face cutoffs or evacuations.
- Gov. Greg Abbott says more than 75 people have been rescued statewide, with no reported fatalities so far.
- A Level 4 flood-rain risk remains through Thursday; relief is expected Friday.
What is happening with Kerrville flooding right now?
Early Thursday, Kerr County confirmed a flash flood emergency for Hunt and Kerrville after heavy overnight and morning rain. Sources told KSAT that runoff sent the Guadalupe River rising rapidly and pushed water into homes.
According to CNN, the National Weather Service issued the highest-level alert for more than 45,000 people in Kerr County. The agency said evacuations and escalating water rescues were underway and that water was beginning to enter structures, with further rises expected along the Guadalupe.
The warning was in effect until 9 a.m. local time. In Hunt, river levels climbed more than 10 feet in just an hour before easing slightly, remaining above moderate flood stage around 4:30 a.m. CT.
Where are evacuations and rescues underway?
KSAT reported rescues underway in Hunt and said rising water cut off road access in parts of the area. Some residents were told to shelter in place because floodwaters made higher ground unreachable.
The old Heart O' the Hills camp property was evacuated to higher ground. Near Flaming Arrow, floodwaters rose about five feet above the bridge's normal flood stage within roughly 30 minutes, forcing evacuations across the bridge.
The Indian Creek Bridge low-water crossing flooded, leaving many people landlocked. Residents in the Old Ingram Loop area were evacuating to the Kerr County Courthouse.
How does this fit the wider Texas flood crisis?
Relentless storms have already dumped up to about 20 inches of rain in parts of southern Texas, roughly half a year's rainfall in hard-hit Uvalde County. Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 59 counties and said more than 75 people have been rescued statewide, with no reported fatalities.
At the peak Wednesday afternoon, the Texas Department of Transportation counted 114 flooded roads. Forecasters posted a Level 4 of 4 high risk of flooding rain Thursday for areas including Kerrville and Uvalde, with rain rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour possible on already saturated ground.
The catastrophic flood threat is expected to ease Friday as storms shift west. Follow developing storm and climate-risk coverage in our Future Tech & AI Wonders section as communities weigh recovery and early-warning tools.