At least 27 people, including nine children, died after flash floods struck the Texas Hill Country early Friday morning, July 4th. More than two dozen girls remain missing at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Kerr County.
The Guadalupe River surged more than 26 feet in less than two hours following heavy overnight rain, swamping the area around Hunt, Texas. Local officials say the speed and intensity of the flooding left little time for evacuation.
Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice called the flood “sudden and severe,” noting its unpredictability. Rescue teams, including game wardens and aviation units, reached Camp Mystic by Friday afternoon and began evacuating children. As of Saturday morning, between 23 and 27 campers are still missing.
Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp founded in 1926 along the Guadalupe River, was hosting around 750 campers when the flooding hit. In a statement read at a news conference, the camp described the disaster as “catastrophic.” The site remains without power, water, or internet, and damaged roads continue to block rescue and relief operations.
One of the victims was 9-year-old Janie Hunt, according to her mother, who confirmed her daughter’s death to CNN. Many families reported receiving calls from local authorities about their missing children. Camp administrators sent an email to parents stating that children not explicitly noted as missing were confirmed safe.
President Donald Trump stated that federal agencies are collaborating with Texas authorities on the response. He announced that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would be dispatched to the area and offered prayers for the affected families.
