Climate Chaos: Texas Communities
Devastated by Apocalyptic Flash Floods
Dave Cortez / Sierra Club

(July 8, 2025) – Over the weekend, the Texas Hill Country experienced disastrous flash flooding. Rapidly rising floodwaters claimed dozens of lives, and entire communities were swept away, including families, children, and loved ones. As of this moment, search and rescue efforts continue, and the death toll continues to rise. Our hearts are broken.

To everyone affected by the storms, please know we are thinking of you. The Sierra Club remains in solidarity with our Texas community during this difficult time. Your safety, well-being, and resilience matter deeply to us.

Homes have been destroyed. Families have been uprooted. A beloved Sierra Club member, longtime wilderness educator, and protector of the Guadalupe River is still missing. We grieve with every family experiencing unimaginable loss right now, and we extend our deepest condolences and solidarity to all who are mourning and awaiting answers.

As we have for decades, the Sierra Club will continue to show up — side by side — with our neighbors in times of need.

In moments like this, one thing is clear: We need each other. Communities across Texas are doing what our systems too often fail to do — caring for one another, rescuing neighbors, offering shelter, and sharing resources. This kind of mutual support is how we’ll survive the new normal of extreme weather — and how we’ll build a future that is safer and more just.

This is a time for care. For compassion. For showing up for each other in the ways that matter most.

This is also a moment to prepare for accountability. Too many Texans have lost their lives due to extreme weather over the past decade, and too few leaders have stepped up to ensure our communities are prepared and protected in the face of a rapidly changing climate.

Sierra Club and our Lone Star Chapter are committed to continuing to show up for Texas, to demand investments in climate resiliency, to hold politicians accountable, and to support our families, friends, and neighbors in times of dire need.
In Solidarity,
Dave Cortez
Director, Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter

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