Environment & Climate
Texas homeowners rebuild for a second time following consecutive annual floods
A year after a July 2025 flood killed 119 people in Kerr County, residents who restored their properties faced another devastating deluge in July 2026.
The short version
- Kerr County, Texas, suffered major flooding in July 2026, just one year after a devastating July 2025 flood killed 119 people in the area.
- Despite surviving back-to-back disasters, several local residents plan to repair their homes and properties again due to deep community ties and financial considerations.
- A ProPublica and Texas Tribune investigation highlighted that Texas lawmakers have repeatedly declined to implement stricter statewide building and development regulations in high-risk zones.
Key facts
- The July 2025 flood in Kerr County, Texas, killed at least 119 people, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic.[ProPublica]
- In July 2026, unusually heavy rainfall caused another flood in Kerr County, resulting in at least one death and damaging newly repaired homes.[ProPublica]
- An investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found that Texas ranks behind more than half of U.S. states in building elevation rules and has missed decades of opportunities to enact stricter development regulations in flood-prone areas.[ProPublica]
- Following the 2025 flood, Texas lawmakers passed a law requiring youth camp cabins to be moved away from riverside locations, but they did not alter statewide building standards for homes or RV parks.[ProPublica]
- Affected residents, including an elderly couple and a local vacation rental owner, plan to repair their properties and remain in the area.[ProPublica]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unclear if state lawmakers will consider broader development and building code reforms in upcoming sessions, as interim hearings have focused on personal responsibility rather than systemic zoning changes.[ProPublica]