Flash flooding is common enough around the crescent-shaped region from Dallas through the Hill Country, the area earned the nickname "Flash Flood Alley."

Here's what to know about the deadly flooding, the colossal weather system that drove it and ongoing efforts to identify victims.

Officials balked at the cost for installing a siren warning system and the potential for sirens to blare in the middle of the night and wake up

Officials in Kerr County, Texas — where 27 campers and counselors at a Christian summer camp were killed in catastrophic flooding — had discussed installing a flood warning system

Just within the last 3 to 6 hours, the National Weather Service reports south central Kerr County has received between 5 to 10 inches of rain, prompting a flash flood emergency until 7 a.m. Friday, July 4.

Heavy rainfall has overwhelmed multiple low water crossings and areas along the Guadalupe River, local authorities reported.

With more than 170 still missing, communities must reconcile how to pick up the pieces around a waterway that remains both a wellspring and a looming menace.

In the wake of the deadly flash floods in Texas, state leaders are exploring whether to install more flood warning sirens. Such sirens can save lives if they're part of a larger warning system.