Texas Floods Kill 120, Devastate Farms, Displace Animals

Historic flooding in Texas following years of drought has caused widespread devastation, claiming over 120 lives with many more missing, and severely impacting farms, ranches, and communities from the Hill Country to central Texas. The floods, triggered by intense rainfall around Independence Day, have inundated rivers and creeks, washing out crops, damaging farmland, and endangering livestock and wildlife. Animal rescue organizations are overwhelmed, with hundreds of pets and wildlife killed and many displaced, prompting emergency shelter expansions and airlift operations to relocate animals to safer areas. Farmers and ranchers are struggling to recover, balancing the care of surviving livestock with salvaging crops and cleaning up flood damage, all while facing the ongoing threat of climate change intensifying extreme weather events. Many local agricultural businesses, including agritourism ventures, face financial uncertainty due to the disasters and lack of adequate insurance coverage. Despite the challenges, community members and farmers maintain cautious optimism, preparing for future floods and working to mitigate losses amid a changing climate landscape.