A year after the devastating Hill Country floods, first responders are still reflecting on the experience. The floods, which occurred on July 4, 2025, resulted in the loss of over 130 lives, including 25 campers and two counselors at an all-girls camp.

Local Response Efforts

First responders from across Texas, including Fort Worth, Plano, and Dallas, were involved in the rescue and recovery efforts. The Texas A&M Task Force 1, which includes urban search and rescue and state boat teams, was also deployed to the area.

Firefighter Shane Harmon, who was part of the rescue efforts, recalls the difficulty of working in the floodwaters. "We left part of our hearts and souls there," he said. Harmon also has a personal connection to the tragedy, as a distant relative was among the missing.

Recovery Efforts

The recovery efforts were extensive, with teams working around the clock to search for survivors and recover the bodies of those who lost their lives. The Texas task force has two units: urban search and rescue and the state boat team. Participating first responders from across the state can be deployed for up to two weeks at a time before replacements rotate in.

Greg Qualls, water rescue team leader with Bedford fire, remembers the challenges of working in the floodwaters. "We put more than 5,000 miles on the pickup truck used to haul the boat during rescue efforts," he said. Qualls’ team was dispatched two more times, the last in October, to support the dive teams working to recover the bodies of the missing.

The final recovery phase wasn’t until January, and canine units with the Texas task force continue to search for the remaining missing persons.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.