Key Point Summary – 5 Dead in Floods

• At least 5 people died in San Antonio flash floods Thursday morning
• Two remain missing after vehicles were swept into rushing water
• More than 6 inches of rain fell overnight—double the monthly average
• Over 70 water rescues were carried out by emergency crews
• 15 cars were washed into a creek near NE Loop 410 and Perrin Beitel
• 10 people were rescued from trees and bushes downstream
• The flooding caused widespread road closures and power outages

City Drowns Overnight As Raging Water Hits

Flash floods turned deadly overnight in San Antonio, Texas, as torrential rainfall overwhelmed streets, swept away vehicles, and left a trail of destruction. Emergency crews confirmed at least 5 dead in floods, with 2 others still missing as of Thursday evening.

Rain began pounding the area after midnight, and by morning, more than six inches had fallen—an astonishing total that exceeds the combined average for both June and July. The chaos started just after 5 a.m., when water rescue calls began pouring into the San Antonio Fire Department.

First responders rushed to NE Loop 410 and Perrin Beitel Road, where floodwaters swept away at least 15 vehicles. What they found next shocked even the most seasoned rescuers.

“Extremely Difficult” Rescue Conditions

Ten people were found clinging to trees and brush a mile from where their cars were swallowed by a creek. Four others were hospitalized with minor injuries, and two people managed to escape on their own.

Fire Department spokesperson Joe Arrington described the conditions as “harrowing” and “extremely difficult.” Trees snapped, water rushed like a wall, and rescuers had to fight for every life.

Throughout the night, crews responded to over 70 high-water rescue calls. Many came from drivers who underestimated the rising water on streets that had transformed into rivers.

Roads Vanish, Power Fails, Chaos Reigns

Dozens of roads across San Antonio were shut down by daybreak. Some highways, including portions of Interstate 35, resembled lakes. Cars floated helplessly, lights flickering beneath murky water.

In Bexar County, officials reported at least 40 low water crossings closed. Neighboring Comal and Hays counties also shut down multiple routes.

As the storm raged, more than 57,000 Texans lost power. Lightning and rising water triggered at least 3 structure fires and 4 transformer explosions. Emergency crews scrambled to respond, even as the water kept rising.

A Record-Breaking Storm

Meteorologists confirmed that Thursday marked the second wettest June day in San Antonio history. The city received 6.11 inches of rain—far above what it’s equipped to handle in such a short time.

Residents say the water came fast. One moment, streets were wet. The next, they were impassable. Some described watching their cars get carried off within minutes.

The National Weather Service had issued flash flood warnings earlier in the evening, but many were caught off guard by the sheer speed and intensity of the rainfall.

Warnings Ignored, Lives Lost

City officials had urged drivers to stay home and avoid flooded roads, but not everyone listened. As the death toll rises, officials are again pleading: “Turn around, don’t drown.”

The fatalities occurred in areas where water moved too fast for even trucks or SUVs to pass. It’s unclear if the missing individuals were also swept away in vehicles, or if they became separated from rescue crews in the chaos.

Recovery efforts continued into the evening, with search teams combing creek beds and submerged neighborhoods.

Grief and Questions in the Aftermath

For the families of the five confirmed dead, the morning storm turned into a life-altering tragedy. The names of the victims have not yet been released. Officials are notifying next of kin as search operations continue.

Meanwhile, weather experts say more rain could be on the horizon, though not at Thursday’s devastating scale. Still, the damage has already been done—both physically and emotionally.

As Texas reels, San Antonio is left asking: Could more have been done to prevent the deaths? And will it happen again?

Outlook: Texas Prepares for More Turbulent Weather

With climate extremes increasing, events like these may no longer be rare. San Antonio’s drainage systems, officials warn, were never designed for rainfall this intense, this fast.

As cleanup begins, emergency services remain on alert. If more rain falls, already-saturated ground will have nowhere to send it. And as Texans have now seen, it only takes a few hours for a calm night to turn into a deadly disaster.

The 5 dead in floods are now the grim warning of what can happen when water takes over a city unprepared to fight it.