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Lakehills residents Vinny and Daniel Mifsud survey the damage on their GlowRow business property in Kerrville, after the July 4 flood. A plaque dedicated to Carroll Abbott, founder of the Native Plant Society of Texas and who partnered with Lady Bird Johnson in her quest to beautify Texas highways with wildflowers, survived.
Photos by Vinny Mifsud
July 7, 2025
Lakehills resident shares his experience during catastrophic Kerrville flood
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
“We were going to spend the night in Kerrville. The next morning, on July 4th, we had our first big tour,” Vinny Mifsud said.
On the evening of July 3, Mifsud and his teenage son Daniel, of Lakehills, were guiding a group down the Guadalupe River for his company, GlowRow kayak tours. He saw lightning on the horizon, and wrapped up the nighttime excursion.
“I took a photo, then saw a storm was coming, so we ended the tour,” Mifsud said.
They had planned to spend the night in their RV, which was parked on their property next to Louise Hays Park, across the river from Tranquility Island. Mifsud was about to call his wife, Tiffany, to ask her to pack up their dog and head to Kerrville, when he had a minor disagreement with Daniel.
“We were rushing to put the kayaks away, and we had an argument, so I decided we would leave and go home,” Mifsud said. “That argument saved our lives.”
Hours later, from about 1-4 a.m., a downpour dumped more than six inches of rain into the converging headwaters of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, approximately 13 miles west of Kerrville. What followed was a 30-plus-foot wall of water, surging eastward downstream with the power of Niagara Falls.
“It took our 20-foot trailer, our 36-foot RV, our F-250 turbo diesel and all 14 kayaks,” Mifsud said. “We lost a quarter of a million dollars in assets. But that’s nothing. I could have lost Daniel. I could have lost Tiffany. I could have lost me.”
According to the National Weather Service, a Flash Flood Warning for Kerr County was issued July 4, at 1:14 a.m.; an urgent Flash Flood Emergency Warning was issued at 4:03 a.m., detailing the possibility of catastrophic damage and severe threat to human life.
In Kerrville, at 3:30 a.m., the Guadalupe water level was less than two feet, moving 277 cubic feet per second (cfs), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. At 4:45 a.m., major flooding occurred at 23.4 feet, moving at 94,600 cfs. (During summer daytime hours, Niagara Falls moves at 100,000 cfs.) At 6:45 a.m., the water level crested at 34.29 feet.
Mifsud said he received a Flash Flood Warning from CodeRED, a web-based geo-targeted emergency notification system, encouraged by the City of Kerrville, at 5:34 a.m.
Mifsud said he registered to receive notifications on his cellphone, his wife’s cellphone, and by email. He said he receives weather warnings for thunderstorms, flash flood potentials, and other emergencies. From March 2 to July 4, he said no less than 25 alerts were sent.
“You don’t know what’s critical and what isn’t,” Mifsud said. “Why weren’t there sirens? Why were no other warnings given?”
The last historic flood in Kerr County was July 17, 1987, when the Guadalupe River rose 29 feet and spilled nearly a mile beyond its banks. Ten teenagers were killed when a youth camp bus became trapped in the water while trying to evacuate.
As of this writing, searchers have found the bodies of 84 people, including 27 children and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp.
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly. We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls,” Camp Mystic released in a statement.
Bandera County first responders and emergency volunteers continue to assist Kerr County’s search and rescue efforts. Local businesses, such as Hyo Silver, are donating to charitable organizations that include Texans on Mission, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, and the American Red Cross.
In Bandera, the Medina River at City Park reached moderate flood stage, peaking at 16.86 feet, moving 12,500 cfs, at 7:15 p.m. By 4 p.m., riverfront RV parks had been evacuated.
While surveying the damage to his property, leveled by large pieces of concrete and debris in the tops of fallen cypress trees, Mifsud said a little girl, who was attending a summer camp, asked to give him a hug.
“People are saying this was an act of God. This wasn’t God,” Mifsud said. “God is the volunteers. God is the people. God is the generosity, the love of everyone. That’s what God is.”
DONATION DROP-OFF CENTERS IN BANDERA COUNTY:
Non-perishable items, first aid supplies, baby supplies, hygiene products, clothing of all sizes, pet food.
-Noah's Ark Daycare - 830-796-4722 - Monday through Friday during business hours.
-The Eagles Nest - 830-850-0944 - All week, noon to 12 a.m.
-Coldwell Banker Stagecoach Realty - 830-460-7200 - Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
-Out Of The Way Café - 830-346-1255 - Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
-Silver Sage Thrift Store - 830-460-1586 - Accepting cases of drinking water.
-Lakehills Area Library - 830-510-2777 - Accepting cases of drinking water.
-Bandera Jewelers - 830-510-3694 - All week during business hours.
-Jimmy Burgers - 830-535-6556 - July 5-13, will donate a portion of sales to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.
-Trump Store Bandera - 830-280-0025 - All week during business hours.
-Bandera Brewery - 830-522-4226 - Donated goods accepted during business hours. July 5-13, will donate a portion of sales to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. BBQ fundraiser Sunday, July 13, at noon. All sales donated to Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.
On the evening of July 3, Mifsud and his teenage son Daniel, of Lakehills, were guiding a group down the Guadalupe River for his company, GlowRow kayak tours. He saw lightning on the horizon, and wrapped up the nighttime excursion.
“I took a photo, then saw a storm was coming, so we ended the tour,” Mifsud said.
They had planned to spend the night in their RV, which was parked on their property next to Louise Hays Park, across the river from Tranquility Island. Mifsud was about to call his wife, Tiffany, to ask her to pack up their dog and head to Kerrville, when he had a minor disagreement with Daniel.
“We were rushing to put the kayaks away, and we had an argument, so I decided we would leave and go home,” Mifsud said. “That argument saved our lives.”
Hours later, from about 1-4 a.m., a downpour dumped more than six inches of rain into the converging headwaters of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, approximately 13 miles west of Kerrville. What followed was a 30-plus-foot wall of water, surging eastward downstream with the power of Niagara Falls.
“It took our 20-foot trailer, our 36-foot RV, our F-250 turbo diesel and all 14 kayaks,” Mifsud said. “We lost a quarter of a million dollars in assets. But that’s nothing. I could have lost Daniel. I could have lost Tiffany. I could have lost me.”
According to the National Weather Service, a Flash Flood Warning for Kerr County was issued July 4, at 1:14 a.m.; an urgent Flash Flood Emergency Warning was issued at 4:03 a.m., detailing the possibility of catastrophic damage and severe threat to human life.
In Kerrville, at 3:30 a.m., the Guadalupe water level was less than two feet, moving 277 cubic feet per second (cfs), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. At 4:45 a.m., major flooding occurred at 23.4 feet, moving at 94,600 cfs. (During summer daytime hours, Niagara Falls moves at 100,000 cfs.) At 6:45 a.m., the water level crested at 34.29 feet.
Mifsud said he received a Flash Flood Warning from CodeRED, a web-based geo-targeted emergency notification system, encouraged by the City of Kerrville, at 5:34 a.m.
Mifsud said he registered to receive notifications on his cellphone, his wife’s cellphone, and by email. He said he receives weather warnings for thunderstorms, flash flood potentials, and other emergencies. From March 2 to July 4, he said no less than 25 alerts were sent.
“You don’t know what’s critical and what isn’t,” Mifsud said. “Why weren’t there sirens? Why were no other warnings given?”
The last historic flood in Kerr County was July 17, 1987, when the Guadalupe River rose 29 feet and spilled nearly a mile beyond its banks. Ten teenagers were killed when a youth camp bus became trapped in the water while trying to evacuate.
As of this writing, searchers have found the bodies of 84 people, including 27 children and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp.
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly. We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls,” Camp Mystic released in a statement.
Bandera County first responders and emergency volunteers continue to assist Kerr County’s search and rescue efforts. Local businesses, such as Hyo Silver, are donating to charitable organizations that include Texans on Mission, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, and the American Red Cross.
In Bandera, the Medina River at City Park reached moderate flood stage, peaking at 16.86 feet, moving 12,500 cfs, at 7:15 p.m. By 4 p.m., riverfront RV parks had been evacuated.
While surveying the damage to his property, leveled by large pieces of concrete and debris in the tops of fallen cypress trees, Mifsud said a little girl, who was attending a summer camp, asked to give him a hug.
“People are saying this was an act of God. This wasn’t God,” Mifsud said. “God is the volunteers. God is the people. God is the generosity, the love of everyone. That’s what God is.”
DONATION DROP-OFF CENTERS IN BANDERA COUNTY:
Non-perishable items, first aid supplies, baby supplies, hygiene products, clothing of all sizes, pet food.
-Noah's Ark Daycare - 830-796-4722 - Monday through Friday during business hours.
-The Eagles Nest - 830-850-0944 - All week, noon to 12 a.m.
-Coldwell Banker Stagecoach Realty - 830-460-7200 - Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
-Out Of The Way Café - 830-346-1255 - Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
-Silver Sage Thrift Store - 830-460-1586 - Accepting cases of drinking water.
-Lakehills Area Library - 830-510-2777 - Accepting cases of drinking water.
-Bandera Jewelers - 830-510-3694 - All week during business hours.
-Jimmy Burgers - 830-535-6556 - July 5-13, will donate a portion of sales to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.
-Trump Store Bandera - 830-280-0025 - All week during business hours.
-Bandera Brewery - 830-522-4226 - Donated goods accepted during business hours. July 5-13, will donate a portion of sales to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. BBQ fundraiser Sunday, July 13, at noon. All sales donated to Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.
The Guadalupe River stages at Kerrville, recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Medina River stages at Bandera City Park, recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
