Breaking: Flash Flood Emergency—Live Updates, Road Closures, Evacuation Orders & Safety Tips

H2: Historic Flash Floods Sweep Texas and New Mexico in July 2025 Central Texas and southern New Mexico are reeling after back-to-back flash floods that turned normally tranquil rivers into deadly torrents. At least 119 people have been confirmed dead in Texas, with more than 170 still missing after water from the Guadalupe and Llano rivers overtook low-lying Hill Country communities overnight on 7 July. In New Mexico, a separate storm cell dumped more than 3 inches of rain in under an hour on 9 July, killing three people—including two children—in the mountain town of Ruidoso and trapping dozens in homes and vehicles. H2: Why the Flash Flood Threat Exploded • Record-warm Gulf moisture collided with a stalled frontal boundary, producing training thunderstorms that repeatedly drenched the same counties. • Years-long drought left soil hard-packed, so rainfall ran off instead of soaking in. • Urban sprawl in rapidly growing Hill Country towns replaced natural floodplains with pavement, accelerating runoff into the Guadalupe River. H3: Timeline of Key Events – 3:45 a.m. CDT, 7 July: Guadalupe River at Kerrville rises from below flood stage to “major flood” in one hour, peaking at 34 ft. – 5:10 a.m.: Camp Mystic cabins inundated; 59 campers swept downstream. – 6–8 July: Search-and-rescue teams from five states deploy swift-water boats and drones. – 11:30 a.m. MDT, 9 July: Sudden wall of water rips through Ruidoso’s Eagle Creek; flood emergency declared. H2: Communities Hit Hardest 1. Kerr County, TX – 59 confirmed child fatalities, repeat flooding in Center Point and Ingram. 2. Llano County, TX – Hwy 71 bridge closed; 9,000 residents without power. 3. Lincoln County, NM – 13 homes destroyed; village of Ruidoso Downs cut off for 6 hours. H2: Flash Flood Safety Checklist • Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts and keep your phone charged. • Never drive across water: just 12 inches can sweep away most cars. • Identify two higher-ground evacuation routes before storms arrive. • Pack a “go bag” with medications, waterproof documents, and a battery-powered NOAA radio. H2: Climate Context Meteorologists note that Texas’ Hill Country has warmed more than 2 °F since 1970, allowing the atmosphere to hold roughly 7 % more water vapor. Heavier rain bursts, combined with impervious development, are making rapid-onset floods more frequent—and more lethal. H2: Recovery and What’s Next Governor Greg Abbott requested a major disaster declaration, unlocking federal debris-removal funds and temporary housing assistance. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service warns that saturated ground could magnify runoff from any additional storms forecast later this week. Residents are urged to heed flash flood watches, relocate valuables above potential water lines, and stay off the roads when warnings are issued. With peak monsoon season only beginning, understanding flash flood risks—and acting quickly—will be critical to saving lives in the weeks ahead.