SAN ANTONIO, TX —
Authorities confirmed Saturday that the death toll from Thursday’s devastating floods in San Antonio has risen to 13, marking one of the city’s deadliest weather events in recent years. All previously reported missing persons have now been accounted for, officials said.
The tragedy unfolded when over seven inches of rain fell in just a few hours, overwhelming storm systems and transforming low-lying areas into dangerous torrents. Beital Creek bore the brunt of the flash flooding, where more than a dozen vehicles were swept into its fast-rising waters.
A City Submerged in Minutes
San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said that floodwaters rose so rapidly that drivers and pedestrians were caught off guard.
“People had seconds—not minutes—to react,” Hood said. “Some managed to climb trees or find high ground. Others weren’t so lucky.”
Emergency responders were dispatched across the city. More than 70 people were rescued, many from their vehicles or from rooftops as water surged through neighborhoods.
Search Area Focused Around Beital Creek
The San Antonio Fire Department reported that 11 of the 13 deceased were located in the Perrin Beitel search zone, the area surrounding Beital Creek, which experienced the most severe flooding. Another individual was found several miles upstream, bringing the total to 13.
Several of the recovered vehicles had been overturned or pinned against natural debris, making search efforts slow and dangerous.
Community Response and Civic Implications
Mayor Ron Nirenberg offered condolences to the victims’ families and praised first responders.
“This city mourns the lives lost,” he said. “But we also recognize the heroic efforts made by our firefighters and paramedics who risked their own safety to save dozens of residents.”
City leaders said the flood revealed longstanding vulnerabilities in San Antonio’s drainage infrastructure. Critics have pointed to the growing frequency of high-intensity rainfall events as evidence of climate instability and the urgent need to modernize urban stormwater systems.
“This is no longer a once-in-a-decade storm. We’re seeing these events too often to call them rare,” said Dr. Eliza Moore, an environmental policy expert at UT San Antonio. “San Antonio needs to act fast—especially in low-income neighborhoods near flood-prone creeks and drainage channels.”
A Call for Preparedness
San Antonio’s Office of Emergency Management said they are reviewing the city’s alert system and flood zone mapping in light of Thursday’s disaster. Residents are encouraged to sign up for text alerts and avoid attempting to drive through flooded roadways.
“Turn around, don’t drown,” officials repeated in Saturday’s press conference.
