{"id":361494,"date":"2026-07-05T01:34:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T01:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/361494\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T01:34:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T01:34:17","slug":"state-of-texas-one-year-after-the-flood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/361494\/","title":{"rendered":"State of Texas: One year after the flood"},"content":{"rendered":"

New episodes of State of Texas are on KXAN or the\u00a0KXAN+ app<\/a>\u00a0every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Don\u2019t want to wait? Scroll down to continue watching this week\u2019s segments now.<\/p>\n

KERR COUNTY (Nexstar) \u2014 One year ago, the Guadalupe River became the center of one of the deadliest disasters in Texas history. In the early morning hours of July 4, floodwaters tore through Kerr County and the Hill Country with terrifying speed.<\/p>\n

The rushing water swept away homes, RV parks, campsites \u2013 and people who had come to the area for the holiday weekend.<\/p>\n

Across Texas, the floods killed more than 130 people. In Kerr County, the loss was especially devastating. At Camp Mystic, 25 girls, two counselors and the camp\u2019s longtime director died as the river rose around cabins where children were sleeping.<\/p>\n

The tragedy left families across Texas grieving and forced difficult questions about warnings, evacuations, emergency planning and what it means to keep children safe along the river.<\/p>\n

This week, on a special edition of State of Texas, our team looks closer at what was lost, but also the recovery and what has changed one year after the flood.<\/p>\n

Camp counselor recounts night of the flood<\/p>\n

Thompson White never attended Camp La Junta as a camper but he had many people in his life \u2014 including a close friend and his brother \u2014 who attended the all-boys camp. After his senior year of high school, White decided he wanted to experience what Camp La Junta had been providing for boys and young men for more than 90 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been such an integral part in so many of these men\u2019s lives that I\u2019m very close with, so I wanted to join that community and experience it for the first time,\u201d White said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Camp La Junta is located on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, just a few miles down river from Camp Mystic. White had only been a counselor for five days when one of the worst natural disasters swept through the area. It brought a wall of water down the river that took the lives of 119 people in Kerr county, including 27 girls and young women at Camp Mystic.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, La Junta only lost property. Every camper and counselor was accounted for after the water receded back into the river. White agreed to speak with Nexstar about how he and five other counselors worked to protect campers as rushing water quickly filled up their cabin.<\/p>\n

AFTER THE FLOOD: Camp La Junta counselor recounts efforts to protect campers during flood <\/a><\/p>\n

In the weeks after the flood, the deaths at Camp Mystic led Texas lawmakers to pass\u00a0House Bill 1<\/a>, the Youth CAMPER Act. The families of the campers and counselors who lost their lives in the floods joined together to push for changes to\u00a0safety requirements for Texas camps.<\/a><\/p>\n

The bill now requires camps to install and maintain an emergency system capable of alerting all campers and occupants of an emergency \u2014 one that \u201cincludes a public address system operable without reliance on internet connection.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Texas Senate passed SB 1, known as the Heaven\u2019s 27 Camp Safety Act, which also tackled safety requirements in youth camps. It prohibits cabins used as sleeping quarters from being located in river floodplains. The legislation also requires camps to train staff on evacuation routes and develop emergency preparedness plans. Those plans must be shared with local emergency management coordinators.<\/p>\n

Flood siren grants may fall short of needs<\/p>\n

\u201cAttention,\u201d a male voice announced during a recent test of a new flood warning siren in Kerr County. \u201cThis is a test of the outdoor warning system. This is only a test. During a real emergency, you should tune to local media for information. This is only a test.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new warning systems produce loud wailing and beeping tones, in addition to recorded messages, according to testing video provided to KXAN by the Upper Guadalupe River Authority. It is a direct response to last year\u2019s flooding and fast-tracked legislation passed in the aftermath mandating them in flash flood-prone areas. Last year, the UGRA \u2014 which shared photos and videos of the recently installed sirens \u2014 faced criticism from some state lawmakers for not having any warning sirens in a vulnerable region dubbed \u201cFlash Flood Alley.\u201d<\/p>\n

AFTER THE FLOOD: Kerr County warns $1.25 million siren grant is likely insufficient <\/a><\/p>\n

Eight sirens are being installed west of Ingram along the Guadalupe River within ear shot of nearby youth summer camps, according to officials.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a safety step that comes with newly revealed concerns over cost.<\/p>\n

Thirty counties identified in last July\u2019s disaster declaration<\/a>, including Kerr, will install warning sirens under Senate Bill 3. Twenty-nine of those counties have executed grant agreements in place, according to the TWDB, and are working to submit project plans \u201csoon\u201d for review and approval.<\/p>\n

Project plans must be approved before funds can be accessed, according the TWDB.<\/p>\n

Following Texas floods, warning sirens get renewed attention <\/a><\/p>\n

Kerr County received an initial grant award on Dec. 16 for $1 million to help fund the sirens, according to public records obtained by KXAN Investigates. The UGRA is expected to ask for an additional $250,000 from the state \u2014 an amount still \u201canticipated to be insufficient\u201d to install \u201call desired flood warning system components,\u201d records show.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unknown how much the final price tag will be, how many sirens will ultimately be installed in the region and how much the county will request in state grant reimbursements. Kerr County plans to request \u201cadditional consideration for funding\u201d beyond the allocated $1.25 million<\/a> amount.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe total project cost will exceed $1.25 million and we are currently estimating the total anticipated cost and components,\u201d the UGRA said in a statement. \u201cOnce an estimate is determined, it will be communicated to the Texas Water Development Board.\u201d<\/p>\n

If \u201csufficient funding is not received,\u201d the UGRA and Kerr County wrote that it \u201cshall not be obligated to proceed\u201d with the full extent of the flood warning system and future watershed protection measures, according to the interlocal agreement between them. The agreement notes the potential need for \u201ca revised scope\u201d of the project that \u201ccan be implemented with available funding.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the flood, Kerr County rebuilds one day at a time<\/p>\n

Mark Armstrong has been serving the Hill Country for decades. His Kerrville restaurant, the Lakehouse, has overlooked the Guadalupe River since 1988.<\/p>\n

Well, it usually overlooks the Guadalupe River. But for a couple of hours on the morning of July 4, 2025, the river rose more than 20 feet into the restaurant\u2019s floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the worst day of my life,\u201d Armstrong said. But seeing his community come in day after day, he considers himself one of the lucky ones.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone suffered something. Nobody came out of this totally unscathed,\u201d Armstrong said.<\/p>\n

In the Lakehouse\u2019s backyard is a constant reminder of the powerful river \u2014 one which claimed the lives of 119 in Kerr County \u2014 and could easily wreak havoc again.<\/p>\n

\u201cTypically, I would be a firm believer in, \u2018It\u2019s a once in a lifetime [flood],\u201d Armstrong said. \u201cThese days, the way things are \u2014 who can say?\u201d<\/p>\n

A little further down the river is a barge \u2014 a temporary reminder that the impact is still so raw. The raft serves as a hub for the search-and-recovery effort for the two flood victims in Kerr County whose bodies have never been recovered.<\/p>\n

While the pair remain missing a year later, the barge has helped with debris removal and other clean-up work. It may provide a positive outcome, but it\u2019s still a somber sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou still come to work every day and there\u2019s somebody out your window doing search and rescue,\u201d Armstrong said.<\/p>\n

Yet, for the most part, Kerrville has bounced back. The downtown area is lively. The \u201cWall of Hope\u201d memorial is gone. Parts of town which had been taken over by volunteer and first responders\u2019 trailers have returned to parking lots.<\/p>\n

But recovery happens on a case-by-case basis. According to Armstrong, many aren\u2019t fully whole yet.<\/p>\n

\u201c(For my customers,) it just runs the entire gamut,\u201d Armstrong said. \u201c\u2018Contractors haven\u2019t made it to us yet,\u2019 \u2018We\u2019re still trying to get our money.\u2019 All the way to \u2018We\u2019re back and we\u2019re better than ever.’\u201d<\/p>\n

Helping to lead the recovery charge is the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. In the immediate aftermath of the flood, they raised $150 million. As of June 18<\/a>, $82 million has gone towards the rebuilding effort in various forms.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur biggest accomplishment to date\u2026 the majority of flood victims in our community who had their homes affected are home again,\u201d Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation, said. \u201cWe have granted over $30 million to repair and rebuild homes, to offer down payment assistance, to offer temporary housing assistance, to pay people\u2019s property taxes and get people home again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Community Foundation also granted funds to help repair or replace community touchpoints \u2014 like parks, little league fields and the senior center. They gave $300,000 to the Riverside Nature Center, which, along with private donations, funding from the Chamber of Commerce and grants from the Lift Fund, helped reopen the flooded nature preserve.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a big humble pit, but it\u2019s also validation,\u201d Becky Etzler, executive director of Riverside Nature Center, said about the community support. \u201cThe Nature Center has been here in the community, part of the community, for almost 40 years. And so sometimes it\u2019s hard to quantify your impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

No matter how long it takes to repair the visibly damaged parts of the Hill Country, the invisible toll of the flood will likely last a generation.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder] in children in our community increased four times\u2026 We have now 6,000 cases of PTSD in a county of about 50,000 people,\u201d Dickson said.<\/p>\n

Responding to the need, the Hill Country Foundation is investing in mental health resources. Examples include:<\/a><\/p>\n

$770,700 to Kerrville ISD for mental health services.<\/p>\n

$750,000 to Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.<\/p>\n

$360,000 to Kerrville\u2019s New Hope Counseling Services.<\/p>\n

\u201cMental health has long and persistent symptoms,\u201d Dickson said. \u201c[It\u2019s] going to be a challenge for many years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Almost 200 flood-related calls to Travis County 911 were made on July 5; Hear the man who made the first<\/p>\n

\u201c911, what is the address of the emergency?\u201d<\/p>\n

Marion Hanson made the first flood-related call to 911 in Travis County on July 5, 2025, according to a call log KXAN obtained through a Texas Public Information Act request.<\/p>\n

He was driving on FM 1431 in northwest Travis County around midnight when he hit a flooded low water crossing. Almost a year later, Hanson took KXAN back to the spot where he found himself stranded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d never seen rain come down like this before in my life,\u201d Hanson said. \u201cAll the water was \u2026 coming down and just going over the road. This is so low right here that when I hit that water, I just came to a stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

His car wouldn\u2019t start again, and he was stuck. That\u2019s when he called 911.<\/p>\n

The call log showed he was one of dozens to call 911 that day. A total of 188 calls were made tied to the flooding in Travis County alone, about a third of which were made between 3 and 4 a.m., according to that call log.<\/p>\n

Hanson said his first indication that things were serious came from the sheriff\u2019s deputy who got to him and let him know the road he\u2019d just traveled had washed away.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told me, \u2018If you have people coming, just tell them to turn around because Cow Creek\u2026\u2019 I said, \u2018What, it got flooded over?\u2019 He goes, \u2018No, it\u2019s no longer there,’\u201d Hanson said.<\/p>\n

While others lost their lives, Hanson was one of the lucky ones. His 911 call resulted in a rescue, but he knows it could have gone very differently. He now says the whole thing was \u201ca learning experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New episodes of State of Texas are on KXAN or the\u00a0KXAN+ app\u00a0every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Don\u2019t want…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":361495,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[90336,2330,12258,2270,4178,4187,8044,128336,128337,36567,27,29,28,128338],"class_list":["post-361494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-camp-la-junta","tag-camp-mystic","tag-flood-warning","tag-guadalupe-river","tag-hill-country","tag-kerr-county","tag-kxan","tag-mark-armstrong","tag-rushing-water","tag-state-of-texas","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-news","tag-thompson-white"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=361494"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361494\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/361495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=361494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=361494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=361494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}