The Texas Floods Were a Preview of What’s to Come

Community members grieve during a candlelight vigil to honor the lives lost in the flash floods that claimed more than 120 lives on July 11, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas.Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

This story originally appeared on Grist and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

The country watched in horror as torrential rain drenched Texas earlier this month, sweeping at least 135 people to their death. Kerr County alone lost 107, including more than two dozen children at Camp Mystic.

From afar, it would be easy, even tempting, to think that floods like these could never happen to you. That the disaster is remote.

It’s not.

As details of the tragedy have ...