Tragedy has struck Central Texas after deadly flash floods swept through the Hill Country, killing at least 51 people, including 15 children. Rescue teams are still working around the clock to find 27 girls who went missing from Camp Mystic, a summer camp for girls located near the Guadalupe River in Kerr County.
The flooding began after intense rain hit the region, causing the river to surge over its banks and rise nearly 24 feet in just a few hours. The result has been widespread destruction, heartbreaking loss, and a desperate search for those still missing.
Camp Mystic, which sits right next to the Guadalupe River, was hit especially hard. Many of the girls at the camp are as young as nine or ten years old. Some cabins were overtaken so quickly by water that counselors had to break windows to rescue children inside. As of now, more than 850 people in Kerr County have been rescued, but the search continues for the missing campers.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the flooding disaster a “24/7 operation” and said rescue crews will not stop until everyone is found. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is now in Texas to help coordinate federal assistance, including resources from FEMA, the Coast Guard, and Customs and Border Protection.
Search crews are facing major challenges. Roads are blocked with debris, trees, and overturned vehicles, making access extremely difficult. Even GPS isn’t reliable because the landscape has been changed by the flooding. Rescue teams are using helicopters, boats, and ground crews to reach the most damaged areas.
The tragedy at Camp Mystic has left many families in deep grief. Four families have confirmed that their daughters died in the flood. One of the victims is 9-year-old Janie Hunt. Others include Sarah Marsh, Renee Sandstrom, and Leila Bonner. Leila’s parents shared that they are heartbroken but continue to pray for others still waiting for news.
Jason Pack, a retired FBI agent and former FEMA official, explained that massive efforts are underway behind the scenes. Emergency operation centers are active and using an organized system to respond. He says the top priority remains search and rescue, but other teams are also working on providing shelter, food, and water for survivors.
Churches and volunteers across the area have opened their doors to offer shelter to people who lost their homes or had to evacuate. The community is coming together to help each other, but the situation remains extremely serious.
Meteorologist Tyler Mauldin says more rain could still fall in the area. While conditions have improved slightly, new rainfall could make things worse for emergency workers trying to reach missing people. A flood watch remains in effect, and light to moderate rain is still expected today and tomorrow. Fortunately, the Guadalupe River has dropped below flood level for now.
So how did this all happen so fast? Experts say the flooding was made worse by a stalled weather system that dumped large amounts of rain over the same area for hours. Central Texas is also in an extreme drought, which means the ground is dry and hard like concrete. The rain couldn’t soak into the ground, so it rushed over the surface instead—causing the river to rise rapidly and flood everything nearby. In some areas, more than a foot of rain fell overnight.
The flood happened so quickly, many people didn’t have time to escape. Eyewitnesses near RV parks said they saw entire families being swept away in the rushing waters. Because so many visitors were in town for the 4th of July weekend, officials are still trying to figure out exactly how many people are missing.
Despite the tragic loss, search teams remain hopeful. Governor Abbott and local officials say they will keep working until every missing person is found. For now, families across Texas and the country are waiting anxiously, hoping for miracles and praying that more survivors are brought home safe.