The loss of life is unimaginable. While we are still grappling with what happened, it’s important to understand the historic nature of this flood. It likely already ranks as the third-deadliest flood in Texas history.

Rescuers searched the Guadalupe River for survivors of the Texas floods that killed more than 100 people over the July Fourth holiday weekend, with an unknown number of people still missing. The basin area was crowded with families and campers preparing to enjoy the holiday when pounding rain brought about catastrophic flash floods just before dawn Friday.