Why devastation struck Texas's 'flash flood alley'

• Aiden's call woke his father to warn that water was rapidly flooding their vacation house.
• The water rose from inches to feet within a minute, sweeping Aiden and others off the property.

Central Texas's "Flash Flood Alley" was devastated by flash floods that rapidly surged overnight, catching many residents and campers completely unprepared. Despite dire National Weather Service alerts, many people were asleep or lacked connectivity to receive warnings, and local officials seemed unaware of the severity until it was too late.

The geography—steep canyons, exposed limestone, and dry soil due to drought—made the region prone to extreme flooding, with normally slow rivers turning into fast-moving walls of water that swept away homes, vehicles, and campers. Particularly tragic was the impact on children's summer camps like Camp Mystic, where communication was limited and many children went missing or died.

Emergency management and alert systems failed to adequately warn and prepare the community, exacerbated by staffing cuts at the National Weather Service which weakened local weather warning coordination. This disaster highlights the urgent need for improved flood warning systems and better public communication to prevent future catastrophes.

• Central Texas is called Flash Flood Alley due to its geography and flood history.
• Dry soil from drought worsens flooding as water runs off instead of absorbing.