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Central Texas experienced torrential rain over the July Fourth holiday weekend, leading to major flooding. More than 100 people died in six counties, including several children at an all-girls Christian summer camp on the Guadalupe River. Many more were displaced from their homes.

Austin storms cause Fourth of July cancellations as deadly flooding continues in Hill Country

Rain comes down on a street at dusk
Michael Minasi
/
KUT News
Rain falls on Guadalupe Street in 2022. Heavy rain caused Fourth of July event cancellations in the Austin area.

Find the latest updates on the flooding and rescue operations in Kerr County here.

Heavy rains hit Austin on Friday, causing officials to cancel local Fourth of July events, including the city's annual fireworks show.

The Lower Colorado River Authority, the agency that manages the river, said it would begin opening several dam floodgates to let stormwater flow from a reservoir on the river.

Counties west of Austin bore the brunt of the dangerous weather. At least 24 people have been killed in Kerr County, which includes the city of Kerrville, after the Guadalupe River flooded overnight.

Many more remain missing.

At a press conference Friday afternoon, acting Gov. Dan Patrick said about "20-some" girls who had been attending a Christian camp in the area, Camp Mystic, are still missing because of the floods.

Patrick, who was noticeably emotional at the press conference, said the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just under an hour. He said first responders have been rescuing adults and children from trees.

A flood advisory is still in place until 7 p.m. Friday for parts of the Hill Country, including the city of Fredericksburg. Weather forecasters warn that small streams could continue to flood. An earlier flash flood warning that was in place for parts of Austin has since expired.

In the Austin area, the city said up to three inches of rain have fallen, and additional storms could bring more rain. The region has experienced an unusually wet summer so far, which has helped to keep typically searing temperatures down.

Here are a few ways to monitor flooding and potential impacts:

Audrey McGlinchy is KUT's housing reporter. She focuses on affordable housing solutions, renters’ rights and the battles over zoning. Got a tip? Email her at audrey@kut.org. Follow her on Twitter @AKMcGlinchy.