Over 20 Children Missing After Flood Sweeps Through Texas Summer Camp
Catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country has turned a summer tradition into tragedy, as authorities continue to search for more than 20 children missing from Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls’ summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
The sudden rise of the Guadalupe River, by more than 22 feet in just two hours, swept through Kerr County around 4 a.m. Friday following torrential rains, leaving destruction and heartbreak in its wake.
By Friday night, the death toll had risen to 24 in Kerr County, with an additional death reported in nearby Kendall County. Officials fear the number could still climb as rescue efforts continue.
Among the hardest hit areas was Camp Mystic in Hunt, which was hosting about 750 girls when the floods struck. The camp’s riverside location made it especially vulnerable.
As the floodwaters surged, Texas Game Wardens and helicopters ferried dozens of children to safety, hoisting some from trees. Yet, between 23 and 25 girls remain unaccounted for, according to Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha.
Videos showed helicopters landing at Camp Mystic and airlifting campers to higher ground. Ground crews, including more than 400 first responders, worked tirelessly through the night.
By Friday evening, 237 people had been rescued, 167 of them by air, said Major General Thomas Suelzer, Adjutant General of Texas.
The Ingram Fire Department described the flood as reaching “catastrophic levels.” Parents desperate for news flooded social media, searching for any updates on their children. Camp officials said they have personally contacted the families of children who had not been accounted for.
Founded in 1926, Camp Mystic is known for offering a Christian-based environment where young girls participate in more than 30 activities, including archery, arts and crafts. Girls can only attend after finishing the second grade, and many return summer after summer to bond and grow in the hill country’s natural beauty.
But this year, that cherished tradition turned to chaos and fear.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick confirmed that about “20-some” girls are still missing, calling it a “mass casualty event.”
Families across Texas and the nation wait in agony, clinging to hope that their daughters will be found safe.
As the search continues, the story of Camp Mystic is becoming a stark symbol of how natural disasters can shatter even the most joyful of childhood experiences.
