Gov. Greg Abbott honored the lives lost on the first anniversary of the deadly Kerrville floods last year.
Abbott read the names of the 119 lives lost in Kerr County during last year’s Fourth of July floods at the Symphony of the Hills Stars, Stripes, and Spirit Remembrance & Resilience Ceremony and concert on July 4.
The Central Texas flooding tragically showed Texas had poor regulations in place for youth camps.
Camp Mystic was severely damaged in the Central Texas floods. Twenty-five girls and three camp employees are killed by the flood waters.
A Texas legislative report found a long list of failures, including that the camp lacked a state-approved evacuation plan, that staff ignored weather emergency warning and a lack of flash flood training.
The Texas Legislature approved legislation in 2025 to strengthen regulation of these sorts of camps. The the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act banned operators for building cabins in flood plains and required camps to have emergency systems in place.
Another bill established a grant program at the Office of the Governor to offer financial support to cities, counties, and other government entities for the installation of early-warning sirens in areas prone to flash-flooding, according Abbott’s office.
“One year ago, the waters rose and the Hill Country faced it’s darkest Fourth of July,” Abbott said. “Lives were cut short. Families lost everything. The names we carry on in our hearts today are not just names. They are fathers, mothers, children, and neighbors. We must remember those who were lost, and those who ran towards the danger. They must never be forgotten.”
During his remarks, Abbott spoke about the resiliency of the Kerr County community, praising how its residents supported one another with strength, compassion, and determination throughout the past year of recovery. He noted the powerful example their unity and perseverance set for the entire state.
The Guadalupe River rose over 36 feet in Kerr County during the storm, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and entire communities, and the disaster is remembered as one of the deadliest inland flooding events in U.S. history.
Gina Hinojosa on Kerrville flood remembrance
Democratic candidate for Texas governor Gina Hinojosa also honored the Kerrville community on the anniversary of the floods.
“One year ago tomorrow, the Guadalupe River took over 130 Texans from us, dozens of children among them,” she said on Saturday. “Their memory calls us to do more than mourn. It calls on us to keep working to make our communities safer, to learn from what happened, and to ensure that every family can trust their leaders to put their safety first.”
Important dates for 2026 Texas election
The last day to register to vote for the General Election is Oct. 5, either online, by mail, or in person.
Early voting starts Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30. The absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 23 for mail requests or Oct. 19 for in-person requests. The absentee ballot return deadline is Nov. 3, by mail or in person on Election Day.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Gov. Greg Abbott, Gina Hinojosa on Kerrville in Texas governor race
Reporting by Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
