Campus Alert Archive
TXST

Sirens Over San Marcos as the July 4th Hill Country Floods Reach a Bobcat Campus

TXfloodingemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

Texas State University's San Marcos campus sat at the edge of the deadly July 2025 Central Texas Hill Country floods, with Hays County under a flash flood warning on July 5, 2025. The city of San Marcos activated outdoor warning sirens as 1-2 inches of rain fell with 2-4 inch hourly rates forecast, warning of life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and low-water crossings. Days later, Texas State President Kelly Damphousse emailed the campus on July 7 with resources for students and staff affected by the broader Guadalupe River flooding.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Texas State University
Public R2 · TX
~40,000 studentsTXST Alerts
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction195 chars
TXST Alert: Flash Flood Warning in effect for San Marcos and Hays County. Avoid low-water crossings and do not drive through flooded roads. Move to higher ground if you are in a flood-prone area.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed wording; the web environment 403-blocks TXST's alert archive, so the exact alert text could not be confirmed verbatim.
The reconstructed safety guidance mirrors the National Weather Service and San Marcos warnings to avoid low-water crossings, the leading cause of flood deaths in the Hill Country.
FOLLOW-UPEmail
Approximate reconstruction308 chars
Texas State community: Our hearts go out to all affected by the catastrophic flooding across Central Texas. The Division of Student Success has emailed students with local home addresses about available resources. If you or your family have been impacted, please reach out so we can connect you with support.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed wording; the University Star reported the July 7 email shared resources and that the Division of Student Success emailed students with local home addresses.
This is a follow-up support message rather than an all-clear; the surrounding Hill Country flood response continued for weeks after the campus itself was out of immediate danger.
Context

Background

On July 4-5, 2025, a slow-moving storm system dumped torrential rain across the Texas Hill Country, sending the Guadalupe River to dangerous heights and producing one of the deadliest flash-flood disasters in recent Texas history. Texas State University's main campus in San Marcos sits in Hays County along the San Marcos River, and on July 5 the county was placed under a flash flood warning with the city activating its outdoor warning sirens as rainfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour threatened creeks, streets, and underpasses. While the campus itself avoided catastrophic damage, the regional flooding devastated nearby communities; according to NOAA the Guadalupe River rose to 37.52 feet. Texas State President Kelly Damphousse emailed the campus on July 7 with resources, and student organizations including Texas State Rugby and Hockey mobilized to help affected students and families. The case shows how a campus on the edge of a regional disaster shifts quickly from severe-weather alerting to recovery and support messaging.
Analysis

Key Findings

Texas State's San Marcos campus was under a Hays County flash flood warning on July 5, 2025, amid the deadly July 2025 Hill Country floods
San Marcos activated outdoor warning sirens as 2-4 inch hourly rainfall rates threatened low-water crossings
The university shifted to recovery messaging by July 7, with the president emailing resources and students mobilizing relief
Outcome
The San Marcos campus avoided catastrophic damage, but the surrounding Hill Country flooding killed dozens. Texas State and student organizations mobilized to assist affected students and families, and the university shared recovery resources.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    San Marcos, Hays County under flash flood warning - The University Star
    universitystar.com
  2. Student Paper
    Texas State, student organizations assist those affected by Central Texas floods - The University Star
    universitystar.com
  3. Official
    March Severe Storms and Floods / 2025 Texas flooding context - Texas Division of Emergency Management
    tdem.texas.gov
Tags
floodingflash-floodtexassan-marcoshill-country-floodssevere-weatheremergency-notification2025-texas-floods
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion