In Hunt, Texas, where the Guadalupe River splits, a staggering seven inches of rain have fallen since Thursday afternoon—the highest rainfall total the area has seen since the early 1990s. This deluge led to a rapid rise in river levels, cresting at over 29 feet before sunrise—marking the second-highest crest in recorded history. The intensity of the rainfall caught both residents and officials off guard.

As the water levels surged, the National Weather Service issued an early flood watch advisory for much of central Texas, urging local communities to prepare for the worst. Soon after, a series of urgent alerts followed, signaling an escalation of the crisis.

Emergency response teams scrambled into action, deploying 14 helicopters and ground crews to search for stranded individuals. However, navigating flooded roads proved difficult, and officials warned that the death toll was expected to rise.

“This is an incredibly tragic event. We’re anticipating a significant loss of life,” said Freeman F. Martin, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon.