KERR COUNTY, Texas – At least two people died in South Central Texas as floodwaters once again inundated parts of the area Thursday — prompting water rescues, evacuations and widespread road closures as emergency crews respond to another dangerous flooding event along the Guadalupe River.
A 74-year-old man was found dead at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Uvalde, after floods swept away his vehicle, the city’s police department said in a news release. Authorities received reports of the vehicle bobbing in the floodwaters at the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 North and County Road 400.
A Texas Department of Public Safety boat team approached the vehicle in the water and confirmed the man’s death, according to the news release.
The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office and DPS confirmed that another man also died in Thursday’s floods. His body was recovered in the vicinity of Center Point, according to a news release.
During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott said the man was swept away in an RV.
“This person’s identification will not be shared until next-of-kin has been notified,” the release said. “Our thoughts are with the family and all those affected by this loss.”
In a Thursday morning Facebook post, Jennie Steward said her husband, John Mark, disappeared during the flooding.
“Our home floated away while my husband was in it this morning,” Steward said in the morning post.
In a follow-up post Thursday afternoon, Steward confirmed her husband’s death.
“My heart is broken. I am devastated,” Steward said. “My husband, Mark, was found and went to be with Jesus. Thank you for all the search and rescue people.”
KSAT has not independently verified John Mark Steward’s death with authorities.
When asked about the death Thursday afternoon, Kerrville Police Chief Jerel Haley said the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office was in charge of that investigation.
“Our community grieves, and we grieve hard. We’re still reeling from what happened a year ago. Those are not easily forgotten memories,” Haley said. “To have this happen again so suddenly is literally quite devastating for a lot of us as first responders, as employees of the City of Kerrville and as members of this community.”
Uvalde most at risk Thursday night, Abbott says
In Thursday’s news conference, Abbott said Uvalde is the area most at risk overnight into Friday.
The Nueces River near Uvalde is expected to set a new record crest overnight, Abbott said. The last record was 24.88 feet in 1996.
He said officials expect “two times the flow of Niagara Falls.”
Abbott also said heavy rain is also expected in the Permian Basin, Concho Valley, Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos area.
“We’re facing record-shattering rainfall that leads to very dangerous flooding,” Abbott said. “We want to do everything we possibly can to protect all lives.”
Fifty-nine counties remain under Flood Watch as of Thursday afternoon.
Disaster declarations in Kerrville, Kerr County
The Guadalupe River reached moderate flood levels in Hunt and major flood levels in Kerrville and Center Point, officials said. The river gauge at Center Point rose to 37 feet just before 6 a.m. Thursday.
Hours later, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. and Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly issued disaster declarations for their respective jurisdictions.
The flooding has stirred painful memories for residents still recovering from last year’s deadly July 4 flooding.
“Having to be in front of you again, so soon after last year’s flood, is hard,” Herring said during a Thursday afternoon news conference.
Watch the full Thursday news conference below.
According to Haley, approximately 20 inches of rain have fallen in Kerrville over the last two days, including a jaw-dropping eight inches in a two-hour span.
The rain caused the Guadalupe River, Dietert Creek, Town Creek and Quinlan Creek to overflow their “banks” and flooded “significant portions” of the city, Haley said.
Kerrville officials said overnight rescue crews were later relieved by fresh crews, who conducted welfare checks and additional evacuations. A large number of evacuations happened in areas where drivers traveled into “high-water areas that they should have never gone into,” the police chief said.
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, Haley said flooding has receded in most areas, but the Guadalupe River “remains at flood stage.”
Officials expressed their gratitude for the Upper Guadalupe River Authority‘s new flash flood warning sirens along the Guadalupe River, which were installed earlier this year.
Another program that has since debuted since the July 4, 2025, flooding: UGRA’s River Hub dashboard, which provides real-time information on rainfall, water levels and stream flow.
“I am thankful to the State of Texas and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority for working to improve our flood warning systems,” Herring said. “Make no mistake: Having accurate warnings in time saved lives today.”
Thursday morning in Kerr County
At Indian Creek in Ingram, floodwaters completely covered a bridge crossing the Guadalupe River. Debris left behind along the roadway showed just how high the water had risen, while emergency helicopters flew overhead as first responders monitored conditions.
A woman who lives near the river told KSAT’s Patty Santos Thursday morning she came to see the flooding because she has friends who lost loved ones in last year’s disaster.
Another resident said the community now reacts much differently whenever heavy rain moves in.
“It’s scary every time it rains,” the resident said. “What I’ve noticed is everybody just panics now because of what happened last year.”
“Just knowing that the river is so powerful, and it can take whatever it takes in a split second,” another resident told KSAT. “People, places. It’s surreal to see it.”
Residents also reported hearing flood warning sirens early Thursday morning. One person shared video showing sirens sounding near Howdy’s before floodwaters quickly swept away vehicles and heavy equipment.
Authorities went door-to-door at a nearby RV park and encouraged people to evacuate. While many left, some chose to remain despite the rising water.
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