South Texas Flash Flooding: Dozens Rescued as Historic Rains Swamp Uvalde and Medina Counties

What Happened?

On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, slow-moving storms dumped up to a foot of rain on parts of South Texas west of San Antonio, according to the Associated Press. The National Weather Service reported more than 10 inches of rain north of Uvalde, with heavy rain also falling in parts of Medina, Bandera, and Kerr counties.

In Uvalde County, first responders carried out at least two dozen high-water rescues, according to the Uvalde Leader-News. Texas game wardens pulled people from floodwaters, authorities posted video of a vehicle being swept away by fast-moving water, and floodwaters from Dinner Creek closed a stretch of U.S. 90 between Sabinal and Knippa for hours, KENS 5 reported. Drone video showed widespread flooding in D’Hanis, a Medina County town of about 800 residents.

Officials in Uvalde opened a local event center for anyone displaced by flooding, and the city of Sabinal was making plans for a shelter. Importantly, no deaths or injuries had been reported as of Tuesday evening, according to the Associated Press.

More Rain Through Thursday — a 59-County Disaster Declaration

Federal forecasters elevated the flash-flood risk along the U.S. 90 corridor west of San Antonio to the highest possible level through Thursday morning, warning that some places could see 10 to 20 inches of rain, according to The Texas Tribune. The counties at greatest risk include all or parts of Medina, Frio, Uvalde, Kinney, Maverick, Zavala, Val Verde, Edwards, Real, and Bandera counties, and forecasters said the Pecos, Rio Grande, Nueces, Frio, Medina, and San Antonio rivers could all flood.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 59 counties midday Tuesday. “I urge all Texans in affected areas to monitor local weather forecasts, avoid driving through flooded roadways, and have emergency supplies ready,” Abbott said.

The warnings came barely more than a year after the July 4, 2025 flash flood on the Guadalupe River killed 119 people in Kerr County. Kerr County was again in the flood watch this week, and Kerrville police barricaded some roadways because of high water.

Who Can Be Affected?

Flooding on this scale touches far more people than the dramatic rescues that make the news. Homeowners and renters whose houses take on water, ranchers and business owners along the U.S. 90 corridor, drivers whose cars and trucks were caught in high water, and vacationers staying along the rivers west of San Antonio can all face real losses — ruined floors and walls, destroyed furniture and equipment, flooded vehicles, and the cost of temporary housing while repairs are made.

Flood Damage and Insurance: What Many Texans Learn the Hard Way

The Texas Department of Insurance explains that a standard home insurance policy does not cover flood damage — flood coverage is a separate policy, most often through the National Flood Insurance Program. Vehicles are different: flood damage to a car or truck is generally covered if the owner carries comprehensive (not just liability) auto coverage. TDI has also published claim tips for Texas flood victims, including filing claims promptly and photographing damage before cleanup begins.

That patchwork of coverage is exactly why claims after a flood get complicated. Which policy applies? Was the damage caused by flood water, wind-driven rain, or a combination? Insurers and policyholders often disagree — and the answer can determine whether a claim is paid.

What Can a Lawyer Do After a Flood?

Attorneys who handle storm and flood claims generally describe several ways they help. A lawyer can read the policies and explain what is actually covered, push back when a claim is delayed, underpaid, or denied, and deal with the insurance company so the family can focus on recovery. Texas law is on the policyholder’s side in important ways: the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act sets deadlines for insurers to acknowledge, investigate, and pay claims, and allows interest and attorney’s fees when a valid claim is paid late. Renters have rights too: under Texas Property Code Chapter 92, when a rental home is made totally unusable by a natural disaster, either the tenant or the landlord may end the lease, and a tenant may be entitled to a rent reduction for a partially unusable home — questions a lawyer can walk through case by case.

Every situation is different, and no one can promise a particular result. But it costs nothing to find out where you stand — the referral and the first consultation are free.

Why Acting Quickly Can Matter

Most property policies require “prompt notice” of a claim, and TDI suggests documenting damage with photos and lists before repairs erase the evidence. Deadlines under the Prompt Payment of Claims Act start running when the insurer receives notice, and claims tied to a declared disaster often move through a crowded system — adjusters, contractors, and courts all get busy at once. People who ask questions early tend to have better records, better documentation, and more options than people who wait.

Sources

1. Associated Press (via KPRC) — Texas is drenched by heavy rains as forecasters warn of dangerous floods (July 14, 2026)
2. The Texas Tribune — Considerable to catastrophic flooding likely through Thursday (July 14, 2026)
3. Uvalde Leader-News — First responders rescue 24 during historic floods
4. KENS 5 — Heavy rains cause Highway 90 closures, triggering rescues in Uvalde County
5. Office of the Texas Governor — Disaster Proclamation, July 14, 2026 (59 counties)
6. Texas Department of Insurance — Flood insurance: Why you need a policy
7. Texas Department of Insurance — Insurance claim tips for Texas flood victims
8. Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 542 (Prompt Payment of Claims Act)
9. Texas Property Code, Chapter 92 (Residential Tenancies)