The start of July Fourth has brought “life-threatening flash flooding” to the area, according to NWS. County authorities confirmed an unknown number of fatalities.
KERRVILLE, Texas — Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. has issued a disaster declaration and county authorities confirmed an unknown number of fatalities amid “catastrophic” July Fourth flooding in Kerr County, particularly along the Guadalupe River.
Five to 10 inches of rain had fallen before sunrise due to slow-moving and intense storms in Kerr and Kendall counties, which remain under a Flash Flood Warning until at least noon. That’s likely to be extended.
The National Weather Service called the flooding a “life-threatening” situation.
PHOTOS: Dangerous Kerr County flooding situation
Kerrville authorities are urging that residents who live within 100 yards of the river “evacuate now” as water overtakes several streets in town. A reunification area has been set up at the Walmart at 2106 Junction Highway. More rainfall is expected due to extremely slow-moving storms in Kerr and Kendall counties, which remain under a Flash Flood Warning until 2 p.m.
“Our office is working with a wide variety of local and state agencies to respond to calls and rescue,” the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “The entire county is an extremely active scene. Residents are encouraged to shelter in place and not attempt travel. Those near creeks, streams, and the Guadalupe River should immediately move to higher ground.”
Thus far, Kerrville is being hit the hardest. The city’s “Fourth on the River” holiday celebration is cancelled, per event organizers, after Louise Hays Park flooded on Friday morning.
A widespread power outage is affecting 5,000 customers in Kerr County amid the severe weather.
At 5:10 a.m., the Guadalupe River reached its second-highest height on record, the NWS says—even higher than the 1987 flood.
“This is a very dangerous and life-threatening flood event,” weather officials said on social media, while urging residents to “move to higher ground.”
Street closures
This is a partial list of street closures in Kerrville due to the flooding:
- Arcadia Loop
- Most of Thompson Drive
- Guadalupe Street
- Rio Robles
- Riverside Drive
This is a developing story.