( The Conversation) – 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.

Tragedies struck as flooding made its way across Texas’ Hill Country. In the early hours of July 4, heavy rainfall engorged the Guadalupe River, upending people’s lives as children attended storied summer camps and residents planned to come together for Independence Day.