A downpour in the scenic Texas Hill Country quickly turned catastrophic in the early morning hours of the July Fourth holiday.

Texas endured widespread watershed flooding—particularly along the Guadalupe River basin. Here's why the damage was swift, severe, and in some areas—catastrophic.

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.