“Only an Evil Person”

As heard in the press conference video, Trump ignored the reporter’s question at first. He instead talked about what a great job everyone did in this event. It was an event that happens maybe once in a hundred or once in a thousand years. Then he said, “Only a bad person would ask a question like that, to be honest with you. I don’t know who you are but only a very evil person would ask a question like that.” He then goes on to praise the people who were there.

The reporter asking the question isn’t evil. What is evil is the government’s continuing decision to ignore climate change. In Trump’s first term, he failed miserably to use science effectively. He struggled to help Americans understand the importance of realizing that our weather is being dramatically influenced by climate change. Trump is a loser when it comes to acting as a problem solver. He uses ignorance to gloss over this tragedy in Texas.

The flooding of the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, was not a once-in-a-hundred-year event. In “Flash Flood Alley,” Kerrville has experienced many significant floods along the Guadalupe River. Could you look at the history of flash floods in the Guadalupe River near Kerrville? You’ll see what I mean. Trump and the Texas governor must not have seen this list.

History of Floods in Kerrville

This timeline underscores Kerrville’s vulnerability to flash flooding and its recurring nature. The 2025 floods have increased attention to the need for effective warning systems and disaster preparedness in the region. The reporter’s question is valid in light of the flooding history of this area of Texas.

• 1936:A major flood occurred on the Guadalupe River.
• 1952:The Guadalupe River experienced another significant flood.
• 1972:Major flooding affected the Guadalupe River in the area.
• 1973:Further major flooding occurred on the Guadalupe River.
• 1978:Heavy rainfall over three days in August caused flooding that resulted in 33 fatalities. A NOAA report highlighted the early morning timing of the flood as problematic for warnings and community response.
• 1987: Heavy rain on July 16–17 caused a massive flood wave. This resulted in a significant rise in the Guadalupe River. Ten teenagers from a church camp died when their bus and van encountered the water. Thirty-three others were injured. Hundreds were evacuated. This event is remembered for when a caravan encountered a flooded low-water crossing.
• 1991:High rainfall followed by heavy December rains led to widespread flooding in Texas, causing 13 deaths and extensive property damage.
• 1997:Another major flood event occurred on the Guadalupe River.
• 1998:A major flood developed rapidly, inundating areas not earlier affected.
• 2025: Heavy early morning rainfall on July 4 caused a dramatic surge in the Guadalupe River. This surge was linked to Tropical Storm Barry remnants. In Hunt, the river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes before the gauge failed, ultimately cresting at 37.52 feet. In Kerrville, the river reached 21 feet. A disaster declaration was issued by the city. The floods resulted in at least 129 deaths and 166 missing individuals, primarily in Kerr County. Many victims were campers at Camp Mystic. There has been criticism about the timing and scope of flood alerts and the official response. Search and rescue involved multiple agencies. The National Weather Service reports major flooding of the Guadalupe River. Historical records show it has occurred over a dozen times in the last century. The area continues to face challenges in flood preparedness. 

Not my Water

Donald Trump wondered where all this water came from to create the devastating Kerrville flood. He said it wasn’t his water. It was, instead,, Joe Biden’s water! Trump has no idea what the source of the floodwater is. Since his first time in office, Trump’s stupidity of hurricanes, floods and fires has put our country in danger. The governor of Texas and the state’s republicans failed their citizens. They did not put a flood preparedness plan into action. The area that flooded was given sufficient warning from the National Weather Service. Although the Trump administration is on the road to disable weather and climate forecasting and research, the professionals in the weather bureau did their job, even with an inadequate staff. The problem lies elsewhere.

Here is a primer on what happened in the early morning hours of July 4th.

A compact, powerful cluster of thunderstorms triggered the flash flood that struck the Texas Hill Country—especially around Kerr County and Camp Mystic—on July 4, 2025. The stalled over the region, combining:

1. Tropical moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry (from the Atlantic)
2. A weather pattern stall, with thunderstorms continually training over the same watersheds  

These storm systems unleashed devastating rainfall. The rainfall amounted to up to 5–11 inches in mere hours. It caused the Guadalupe River to surge at least 35 ft in some areas between 2 and 7 a.m. 

The rapid water accumulation was worsened by the region’s characteristics:

• Flash Flood Alley terrain: rocky hills, thin soil, the Balcones Escarpment—all of which funnel water rapidly into rivers with little absorption  
• Clay-rich soils that prevent water from soaking in, turning much rainfall directly into fast-moving runoff  

In essence, it was a “perfect storm.” The storm was stalled and moisture-rich over ground unprepared to absorb that volume. This triggered catastrophic flash flooding along the Guadalupe River on July 4—killing over 130 people and leaving around 160 missing.