On the night of June 12, torrential rains struck Central Texas, triggering one of the most destructive floods in recent decades. The city of San Antonio took the hardest hit: over 6 inches of rain fell within just a few hours, with nearly 4 inches pouring down in a single hour. According to meteorologists, such an intense downpour occurs only once every 50 to 100 years.
The situation was especially critical in the northeastern part of the city, in the Perrin Beitel area. There, the water level in the San Antonio River surged rapidly — from 3 to 25 feet in just two hours — a rate comparable to flash floods seen in tropical systems.
Cars were swept away by the raging water, and 10 people carried off by the current were found by rescuers about a mile from where they were caught in the flood. They had clung to trees and bushes to avoid drowning.
Water levels reached up to four feet in low-lying areas, and dozens of roads were closed, including crossings throughout Bexar County. In the New Braunfels area, over 3 inches of rain fell within 30 minutes. Widespread flooding was also reported in neighboring Comal, Hays, and Matagorda counties, where a state of emergency was declared.
Over the course of the day, emergency crews carried out at least 70 water rescues.
The flood was accompanied by severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes. In Wharton County, an EF-1 twister damaged homes, while another tornado touched down east of Behr.
Thirteen people lost their lives in the disaster. Most of the victims died after their vehicles were overtaken by the rushing floodwaters.
This flood in Texas is just one link in a growing chain of extreme disasters unfolding across the globe. We are witnessing global processes whose origins lie deep within the Earth. Dr. Egon Cholakian explains what is really happening and shares a scientific path forward that could protect millions. Watch his address — this information could save lives.
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