With hundreds confirmed dead or still missing, questions remain about the local response to flood warnings. Meanwhile, lawmakers will weigh measures to mitigate future disasters.

I’m sad because all those people on the wall died,” said little Emma, who traveled to the vigil with loved ones from Fredericksburg.

People awoke from water rushing around them during the early morning hours of July 4, all along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country. Residents were seemingly caught off guard, but warnings had been issued days and hours before floodwaters began carrying away homes,

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"This event is to raise meaningful, immediate support that can be put directly into the hands of flood victims without delay."

Within minutes of being reported, this fake GoFundMe page was shut down, but not before scammers used a surprising tactic.

The Fourth of July flooding had an outsized effect not just on the Hill Country but also on rain-starved Texas cities like San Antonio and Austin.

Texas Hill Country is known for its landscapes, where shallow rivers wind among hills and through rugged valleys. That geography also makes it one of the deadliest places in the U.S. for flash flooding.

The storied Guadalupe River meanders through this Texas Hill Country town and into the unincorporated parts of Kerr County like a vein.

The rivers etching the terrain are a beloved feature of the rapidly growing region. But last week’s flooding was an agonizing reminder of the dangers they pose.

Gary and DeeAnn Knetsch were camping directly next to the Guadalupe River with their son, Jake Moeller, his wife, Megan and their five-year-old daughter, Harley. Gary, DeeAnn, Jake and Megan all lost their lives. Harley is still among the missing. Both families lived in Canyon Lake but have ties to the Houston and Mont Belvieu areas.