This part of Texas Hill Country is known for flash floods. Why were so many people caught off guard when the river turned violent?

The torrents that washed away so many Texas lives have brought a flood of volunteers in their wake. And for those picking up the pieces, those volunteers have brought hope to a devastated landscape.

July 2025, a rumor circulated on social media that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sent rescue teams to Texas following the deadly floods that hit the state during the Fourth of July weekend. The rumor gained significant traction after actor Viola Davis posted ( archived) a photograph of Sheinbaum on Instagram alongside text praising her alleged decision to help the Texas search-and-rescue efforts.