A catastrophic flash flood in Texas Hill Country has claimed over 100 lives and left dozens missing many of them children at summer camps making it one of the deadliest in US history. Triggered by a rare overnight storm that dumped up to 18 inches of rain, the Guadalupe River surged by 26 feet in just 45 minutes, sweeping away homes, bridges, and lives.
Despite early alerts from the National Weather Service, many residents received no effective warnings. Camps had no sirens, and phone alerts went unnoticed during the night. The event has drawn sharp attention to global shortcomings in early warning systems and disaster preparedness.
Flash floods are the deadliest form of flooding globally, accounting for 85% of flood-related deaths and killing over 5,000 people annually. Their speed and intensity, especially in steep, urbanized terrain like Texas, leave little time to respond. Experts warn that climate change and rapid urbanisation are intensifying such threats.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is urging action through its Early Warnings for All initiative, which includes the Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS). Operating in over 70 countries, the FFGS helps national forecasters predict floods using satellite data, weather models, and real-time hydrological information.
The disaster also exposed deeper vulnerabilities: inadequate infrastructure, poor local alert systems, and lack of community-level preparedness even in high-income nations. Globally, 1.8 billion people are exposed to major flood risks, with 89% living in low- and middle-income countries.
WMO stresses that stronger local communication, hazard mapping, night-time warning systems, and better emergency training are crucial to save lives. As flash floods become more frequent and severe, the Texas tragedy stands as a powerful reminder: early warnings must translate into early actions.