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Rescue operations conducted by the Texas Army and Air National Guard resulted in the successful recovery of at least 525 people from floodwaters in Central Texas as of Sunday.
On July 4, 2025, extreme flash flooding struck Central Texas as over four months of rain fell within hours and swelled the Guadalupe River to abnormally high levels within minutes. Governor Greg Abbott has declared a disaster in 15 Texas counties.
President Donald J. Trump has called the flood a "100-year catastrophe" and approved a major disaster declaration for Texas on July 6, making federal funding available to state and local authorities for emergency assistance as well as to individuals affected by the tragedy.
Floodwaters devastated Kerr County, sweeping away the all-girls Camp Mystic and killing at least 27 children and camp counselors. Many people caught up in the flood remain missing. As search and rescue efforts continue, the death toll has risen to over 105.
Texas Guardsmen are among emergency responders on the scene conducting search and rescue operations, clearing roadways, and removing debris, as more rainfall is expected in the area. There are about 230 Guard troops currently deployed to affected areas.
Of the lives saved by the Guardsmen thus far, 366 people were evacuated by air using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and 159 were ground rescues conducted by the Guard using a variety of vehicles and tactics.
Additionally, members of the 147th Attack Wing Air Support Operations fielded the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to assist with rescue and recovery, according to the Texas Air National Guard. The Reaper drone is unarmed and has extremely powerful surveillance capabilities to gather detailed imagery of flooded areas. The Reaper flew to Kerr County from Houston to aid in the effort.
The National Guard are a critical component of disaster response across the nation, with members trained to use military expertise and equipment provide fast and effective emergency support in severe weather events such as hurricanes and wildfires, and to conduct search and rescue operations.
—By Zita Fletcher
