What we know about the Hill Country flooding that killed at least 25 people

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Relentless storms stalled over the Texas Hill Country, dumping historic amounts of rain that caused rivers and creeks to swell with astonishing speed. The Blanco River near Wimberley surged almost 30 feet in barely an hour and ultimately crested at more than 40 feet above flood stage, obliterating gauges and sweeping entire homes off their foundations. Drone and helicopter footage in the video captures debris-filled water roaring across bridges, submerging neighborhood streets, and smashing structures that had stood for decades.

First responders describe chaotic overnight rescues—boats navigating pitch-black, debris-choked water to reach rooftops and tree limbs where people clung for safety. One house carrying nine relatives and friends was ripped from its pilings and shattered downstream; only fragments of its frame were later found. Search teams combed miles of riverbank for the missing while the death toll climbed past 25 across Texas and neighboring states.

Governor Greg Abbott declared disasters in more than 30 counties, activating National Guard assets and urging residents to avoid low-water crossings that often look passable but can conceal deadly currents. Meteorologists in the video link the extreme event to a stubborn upper-level low and saturated soils from an already record-wet spring, warning that additional rounds of rain could trigger new flash floods.

Local officials stress that advanced warning systems and evacuation orders saved countless lives, yet they also acknowledge gaps—sirens drowned out by thunder, cell alerts arriving too late, residents underestimating the power of floodwaters. Road closures, washed-out bridges, and ongoing dam releases around the Highland Lakes complicated both the emergency response and the return to normal travel routes.

The video closes on recovery efforts: shelters bustling with families who lost everything, volunteers distributing food and cleaning supplies, and insurance adjusters fanning out to assess billions in damage. Environmental experts caution that mold and contaminated water pose lingering health risks, while community leaders vow to rebuild stronger and push for updated floodplain maps and tougher construction standards along the Blanco, Llano, and Pedernales rivers.

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