In 1987, sudden and intense rainfall caused the river to surge at an unprecedented rate in mid-July, leading to a tragedy that killed 10 campers at Pot O' Gold Christian Camp, a summer camp near Comfort, Texas. The campers drowned when their bus attempted to evacuate them and was overtaken by floodwater.

Sen. Ted Cruz rejected weather modification claims, saying there's "zero evidence" and calling such theories "crazy" following the flooding in Texas.

Meteorologists point out that hurricanes and flood-making storms possess extraordinary amounts of energy that humans can't reproduce or control.