What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, July 7
We know all too well that disaster can strike anytime, anywhere in the world. Some disasters make headlines; others do not. Here at the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), we monitor the status of disasters worldwide and compile a list of the ones we’re tracking weekly, along with relevant disaster-related media coverage.
Here’s what we’re watching for the week of July 7, 2025.
New or Emerging Disasters
Flooding – Texas: In the early hours of the Fourth of July, catastrophic flooding struck central Texas when the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes. At least 107 people have died, including 30 children from a girls’ summer camp located next to the river. At least 28 people are still missing.
The floods were at their worst while people were asleep, and survivors have said that they didn’t receive emergency warnings. Officials have described this event as a “100-year flood,” meaning the water level rose to a highly unlikely point based on historical records.
Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing. The full extent of the damage may not be assessed for several days, as central Texas faces more rain and flooding throughout the week of July 7.
To learn more about the flooding, read our disaster profile.
Tropical Storm Chantal – North Carolina: On July 6, Tropical Storm Chantal caused severe flooding in central North Carolina. At least one person has died. The fire department conducted more than 50 water rescues in Chapel Hill and over 80 rescues in nearby Durham.
No injuries have been reported, but several people remain missing in neighboring Chatham County. At least 23,000 customers were without power, and about 60 people were displaced.
Wildfire – California: The Madre Fire in San Luis Obispo County, California, has burned over 80,000 acres and is 30% contained as of July 7. The fire is burning in Los Padres National Forest and is the largest wildfire in the state so far this year.
In a message posted on social media on July 3, the U.S. Forest Service – Los Padres National Forest said: “With the current weather, terrain, and fuel conditions this fire has seen exponential growth in less than 24 hours in multiple counties surrounding the San Luis Obispo County area. Smoke impacts will be far-reaching.”
Evacuation orders are in place, and at least one structure has been destroyed.
Typhoon Danas – Taiwan: On July 7, Typhoon Danas dumped over 24 inches of rain on Taiwan’s west coast. At least 300 people are injured, and two have died. The storm cut power to 580,000 customers, closing schools and offices across the country. About 3,400 people were forced to evacuate.
Taiwan regularly sees typhoons this time of year, but they usually make landfall on the eastern coast, which is less densely populated. This is the first typhoon to hit Chiyai County since the Central Weather Administration began keeping records in 1958.
Previous or Ongoing Disasters
Heat wave – Spain: The heat that gripped Western Europe for over a week is now moving east. In Spain, where temperatures reached 105.8 Fahrenheit, seven people have died – five from heat and two from wildfires.
Authorities are concerned that the heat will increase marine temperatures, causing the type of extreme weather that Spain saw last year when deadly floods killed 205 people.
Complex Humanitarian Emergencies – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
When a country experiences political conflict, climate shocks, famine, economic challenges or other conditions, it may suffer a complex humanitarian emergency (CHE). CDP maintains complete profiles on several CHEs. Every week, we highlight these and other CHEs hoping to build awareness and philanthropic response.
Despite ongoing efforts to broker a political solution, violence and humanitarian crises continue to escalate in eastern DRC. UN officials warn that the situation remains catastrophic, with widespread human rights violations, dire shortages of food and shelter, and calls for urgent humanitarian relief.
Key facts:
- At least seven million people are currently displaced across the country.
- 27.8 million people are facing acute food insecurity.
- At least 1.4 million children suffer from acute malnutrition.
- Men and boys accused of links with opposing forces face abduction.
- There have been at least 67,000 registered cases of sexual violence against women and girls in 2025 so far.
- About 290 schools have been destroyed in the eastern part of the country, leaving 1.3 million children without formal education.
As of July, the humanitarian response plan for the DRC is only 11% funded.
What We’re Reading
- UNICEF cash transfers a lifeline for people living in DR Congo – Forbes
- States fear critical funding from FEMA may be drying up – Pro Publica
- The aftermath of floods, hurricanes and other disasters can be hardest on older rural Americans – here’s how family and neighbors can help – The Conversation
A moment of hope… Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, a 26-year-old from New Jersey, led a heroic rescue effort during the catastrophic flooding in central Texas, saving 165 people, primarily children and staff stranded at Camp Mystic.
It was his first mission as a rescue swimmer, and he arrived on the scene as the only triage coordinator. Between rescues, he organized helicopter evacuations and provided logistical and emotional support to terrified survivors. While he saved dozens of lives, Ruskan remains focused on those still unaccounted for. “It’s not over for us,” he said.
Gina DeLuca
Content Development Associate