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By Hollie Silverman
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Emergency search and rescue operations for flood victims in central Texas were suspended Sunday morning as severe flash flood warnings and ongoing heavy rainfall increased risks for first responders.
"All search and recovery operations along the Guadalupe River are suspended at this time," Kerr County wrote in a post on Facebook. "All persons, equipment and vehicles should be removed from the river area immediately."
The latest round of life-threatening weather led to urgent evacuations along the Guadalupe River corridor in Kerr County where at least 130 people have died and more than 170 remain missing following historic flooding that occurred last week.
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Recovery teams in West Kerr County were allowed to resume their efforts just after 2 p.m. local time Sunday, a post on Facebook from Kerr County said.
Why It Matters
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the Guadalupe River could surge to nearly 15 feet—5 feet above flood stage—by Sunday afternoon, inundating key infrastructure and endangering any further search efforts, the Houston Chronicle reported.
The flash flood warning comes just over a week after the river unleashed catastrophic waters across homes and camps, marking the deadliest flood event in the region in decades.
The renewed weather threat not only halts critical search and recovery efforts, but also raises fears of further casualties and destruction, particularly in areas where infrastructure remains compromised.
According to the NWS, up to 19 million people across the central United States faced flood watches as of Sunday morning, heightening the potential for new emergencies in communities already struggling with loss and displacement.
What To Know
The NWS issued flash flood warnings for Kerr and surrounding counties on Sunday morning, for areas including Kerrville, Comfort, Ingram, Hunt, and Mountain Home.
Officials stated that "life-threatening flash flooding" is possible along creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, and underpasses as rainfall rates reached dangerous levels.
The warning triggered the suspension of all ground search operations and the closure of Highway 39 to nonresidents.
In addition, Doppler radar detected thunderstorms producing rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour, the NWS warned in an advisory.
The Ingram Fire Department and Kerrville Police Department ordered immediate suspension of all search activities due to flash flood dangers.
"We will provide more information soon, but for now, all search crews need to evacuate the river corridor until further notice," Kerrville Police Department wrote in a Sunday morning Facebook post.
The death toll from the floods has climbed to at least 130 across in six counties, with Kerr County suffering the greatest loss—103 fatalities, including 36 children.
Residents described being caught off guard by the initial floods due to late or missing warnings, drawing attention to longstanding concerns about local flood notification systems.
In the days since the flooding, the official response and notification system has been put into question, with federal and local officials defending the response.
Last week, President Donald Trump visited the Lone Star state and signed a disaster declaration that activated federal resources, while Texas Governor Greg Abbott convened state agencies to prepare for future storms and enhance emergency communication.
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What People Are Saying
Kerrville Police Department wrote in a post on Facebook Sunday morning: "We are seeing heavy rain in Kerrville at this time. Volunteer operations are currently suspended until further notice. All self-deployed volunteers need to heed this warning as well for their safety. Highway 39 is closed to everyone except first responders and residents. Protecting lives is our highest priority."
National Weather Service San Antonio said in an advisory Sunday: "A Flood Watch is in effect for the Hill Country, Interstate 35 corridor and southern Edwards Plateau until 7 PM CDT Sunday. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated amounts up to a foot (12 inches) are possible."
What Happens Next
The flash flood warning will stay in effect until at least 11:30 a.m. local time Sunday.
Authorities plan to closely monitor river levels and forecast updates, with the intent to resume suspended search-and-rescue operations as soon as conditions permit.
Emergency services continue to issue guidance to residents regarding road closures and flash flood risks.
State and federal officials have scheduled evaluations of the region's flood warning and emergency response systems in the aftermath of the crisis.
Update 7/13/25 4:23 p.m. This story has been updated with more information.
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