KERRVILLE, Texas — On the early morning of July 4, 2025, central Texas was struck by a devastating storm that unleashed nearly 30 inches of rain in a matter of hours, resulting in catastrophic flash flooding along the Guadalupe River.
In response to the disaster, Texas National Guardsmen quickly initiated search-and-rescue operations in collaboration with civil authorities.
Currently, hundreds of guardsmen remain actively engaged in ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
To date, the Texas Army and Air National Guard have successfully rescued at least 525 individuals through water and rooftop evacuations.
They are utilizing UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 Lakota helicopters, along with C-130 Hercules aircraft for aerial reconnaissance missions.
On July 15, 2025, significant figures including Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Raines, senior enlisted advisor to the NGB, joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, Texas adjutant general, for an aerial assessment of the flood-affected regions.
Gen. Nordhaus expressed pride in the Guardsmen’s efforts, stating, “Our hearts go out to all those who have lost loved ones and seen their communities upended.
This response effort has been a tremendous example of the Guard’s exquisite homeland response capabilities and the power of our partnerships.”
Governor Abbott commended the National Guard’s role in the rescue operations, referring to their efforts as nothing short of remarkable.
Through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, additional support has been provided by Guardsmen from Arkansas, Arizona, and North Dakota who have assisted Texas’s response to this crisis.
Arkansas dispatched four Black Hawk helicopters and 22 guardsmen for medical evacuations, rooftop rescues, and cargo missions.
Furthermore, Arizona and North Dakota National Guardsmen supported aerial reconnaissance of the debris-strewn Guadalupe River basin using MQ-9 Reaper drones, with North Dakota’s team recently concluding their mission and returning home.
This compact facilitates assistance during governor-declared states of emergency, enabling personnel, equipment, and resources to be shared across state lines for effective disaster response and recovery.
Adding to the collaborative efforts, a 16-member search-and-rescue team from the Czech Republic, including four K-9s, arrived from Germany via Kansas Air National Guard aircraft to support riverbank searches on July 13, 2025.
Gen. Nordhaus has expressed gratitude toward the Czech partners, emphasizing the importance and mutual benefits of the 32-year Defense Department National Guard State Partnership Program.
Recognition was also given to Army and Air National Guardsmen for their dedicated contributions.
Army Capt. Connor Garrison, a company commander in the Texas Army National Guard, recounted evacuating children from Camp Mystic to safety in Ingram, where first responders awaited.
“The crews in the Texas Guard have a general sentiment of ‘we never want there to be a reason to respond, but if there is, we want to be there,'” Garrison stated.
He expressed immense pride in the team’s efforts, noting, “The amount of pride I have for our team and the work that was put in for this response is hard to put into words.”
His sentiments reflect the collective response of the community, as officials continue to assist families affected by this tragic flood.
Despite ongoing rescue efforts, Texas officials report that more than 100 individuals remain unaccounted for in the aftermath of the devastating flood.
As the search-and-recovery mission persists, the National Guard’s commitment to aiding impacted communities remains steadfast.
Command Sgt. Maj. Raines remarked on the interagency collaboration, saying, “This is where the Guard shines brightest, when we step up to help communities in need.”
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