On July 4, Kerr County experienced severe flooding as the Guadalupe River overflowed, leading to a crisis that caught local officials off guard. Emails and text messages from the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) reveal a mix of confusion and concern among officials as the situation escalated.

Initially, an official expressed excitement in a group chat, sharing a graph that showed a significant increase in streamflow levels. "Wow!! It's a beautiful thing!" the official wrote at 7:09 a.m. However, just 30 minutes later, the tone shifted dramatically. "I had just woken up and hadn't looked at the gages yet. It's terrible," the official admitted as floodwaters began to inundate parts of Kerr County.

By that time, flood alerts were issued, and the Kerrville Police Department was responding to multiple water rescue calls. The full impact of the flooding would not be known for days, but it ultimately resulted in over 130 fatalities, many occurring at Camp Mystic. One official texted the camp's president, Dick Eastland, saying, "You are in my prayers," unaware that Eastland and several campers would not survive the storm.

As the day progressed, UGRA officials communicated their growing concerns. Messages indicated that water gauges in Hunt and Kerrville had stopped functioning, and reports of missing individuals began to surface. An official noted at 9:47 a.m., "There are missing people and possibly missing kids from Mystic but that is not confirmed." Less than two hours later, another message stated, "They are saying now all Camp Mystic accounted for. Praise the lord." However, by mid-afternoon, the UGRA leadership recognized the situation was more serious than initially thought.

UGRA board president William Rector inquired about Camp Mystic's status, while general manager Tara Bushnoe shared that local news indicated some girls were missing. Bushnoe expressed doubt about the effectiveness of a flood warning system, stating, "I think it would have made some, but this happened so quickly." Rector agreed, emphasizing the need for caution in their messaging.

In the aftermath of the flooding, UGRA officials faced inquiries about their preparedness. One official anticipated receiving angry calls from the public, stating, "I have a feeling we'll be getting lots of calls from very angry people asking why we let this happen."

Documents released in the weeks following the disaster revealed that concerns about the Guadalupe River's risks were well-known prior to the floods. The UGRA had applied for a $1 million grant to establish a flood warning system but later declined to pursue the funding, citing the project’s limited eligibility for grants.

Just a month before the floods, the UGRA signed an agreement with a company to develop a different flood warning system, but plans were put on hold after the disaster. The July 4 flooding, which coincided with a planned fireworks event, became one of the most tragic days in Central Texas history, leaving many unaccounted for as night fell.

As the UGRA team reflected on the catastrophe, natural resources specialist Travis Linscomb expressed hope for more survivors but acknowledged the need for improved flood warning systems. "Unfortunately it seems like it takes major loss of life to get the ball really rolling on it like Blanco 2015 did," he noted, referencing a previous flood disaster.

In the days following the floods, a committee of Texas legislators began investigating the circumstances surrounding the event. The lack of an effective flood warning system became a focal point of discussion, with officials grappling with the complexities of implementing such measures.

The July 4 floods have raised significant questions about the preparedness of local agencies and the need for better flood management strategies in Kerr County.