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Texas Flash Flood Death Toll Reaches 120 as Search Turns to Recovery and Warning Reforms Loom

With no new live rescues reported since July 4, scrutiny over delayed CodeRED alerts intensifies ahead of Abbott’s July 21 special legislative session

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Clouds move in during a vigil for flooding victims at Tivy Antler Stadium on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Overview

  • Search teams have shifted from live rescues to recovering remains amid debris along the Guadalupe River after the July 4 flood surge.
  • At least 120 people are confirmed dead and more than 170 remain missing, marking the deadliest inland flood in the U.S. since 1976.
  • Critics question a 90-minute delay in issuing CodeRED warnings after a firefighter’s early-morning alert request, prompting calls for an after-action review.
  • Kerrville Police officers and volunteers rescued over 200 residents door-to-door and conducted 13-hour operations in waist-deep waters during the flood’s first hours.
  • Governor Greg Abbott has called a special legislative session beginning July 21 to approve new flood-warning systems and strengthen emergency communications.