Texas Hill Country flash floods leave one dead as rivers keep rising

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has confirmed that one person has died in the Hill Country because of torrential rainfall causing life-threatening floods.

"I have learned that there has been one loss of life now, and that happened overnight. I am informed that the loss of life is not a camper," Abbott said.

Currently, the area affected by heavy flooding is along the Guadalupe River near Comfort, Texas. As of yesterday, Texas already had more than 1,300 personnel responding to the flooding events in Kerr County, Uvalde and other parts of the state.

Over the last year, Texas has installed flood sirens in the region in response to the July 4, 2025, flooding event that claimed more than 130 lives - 28 of which were at Camp Mystic.

Abbott said all the sirens installed worked, except for a hiccup with one.

"Sometime before 4 a.m. this morning, there was a triggering of a siren that didn't go off immediately but it was triggered five or 10 minutes later and it did go off at that time," Abbott said.

Storms in the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas are in the forecast, and much of the area is under a flood warning from the National Weather Service.

Abbott also said that the waters will continue to rise and that drivers should not drive in flood waters.

"Turn around, don't drown," Abbott said. "Do not risk your own life driving into rising waters."

Texas weather watches, warnings

Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas Hill Country flash floods leave one dead as rivers keep rising

Reporting by Mateo Rosiles, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 11:04 AM.