A sudden Guadalupe River flash flood wiped out cabins at a girls’ summer camp, causing mass deaths and leaving many children missing.
At a Glance
- Torrential rain from July 4–5 pushed the Guadalupe River up to 26 ft in under an hour along the riverbanks.
- At least 24 people, including several children, have died in Kerr and Kendall counties.
- Around 23–25 girls from Camp Mystic remain unaccounted for after the flood struck their cabin area.
- Over 237 people, including 167 by helicopter, were rescued by Texas authorities.
- State and federal emergency crews, including 14 helicopters and hundreds of personnel, are in active search-and-rescue mode.
Catastrophic Collapse Of Camp Mystic
Late on July 4, intense storms dumped 5–10 inches of rain, triggering a record-breaking rise in the Guadalupe River—26 ft in just 45 minutes—overwhelming cabins at Camp Mystic and nearby facilities. A 13‑year‑old survivor described the camp as “completely destroyed,” with cabins swept away and floodwaters severing power and escape routes. Many campers, especially younger ones near the riverbank, were swept away before any formal evacuation could begin.
Officials confirmed at least 24 fatalities—23 in Kerr County and one in Kendall—including confirmed child victims. Approximately 23 girls remain missing among the camp’s roughly 750 attendees, with one nine-year-old girl already confirmed dead. The National Weather Service had warned of a “particularly dangerous situation,” yet local officials acknowledged the storm’s speed and power defied forecasts.
Watch a report: Drone Footage Shows Extent of Deadly Texas Flooding
Massive Rescue Under Crisis Conditions
Texas deployed 14 helicopters and hundreds of emergency responders to conduct high-stakes rescues from rooftops and tree lines. As of Friday night, 237 people—167 by air—were saved from the flood zone. Families waited at reunification centers while first responders braved washed-out roads, collapsed bridges, and continuing rainfall.
Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster across affected counties. Onboard Air Force One, President Trump vowed federal backing: “We’ll take care of them,” he told reporters en route to campaign stops. Despite improving weather on Saturday, meteorologists warned that more rain remains likely, endangering rescue crews and survivors alike.
Horror Echoes 1987 Disaster
The tragedy revives haunting memories of the 1987 Guadalupe River flood, which killed 10 teenage girls at another nearby camp. That event also saw a river surge of over 25 feet in under an hour. Despite safety upgrades in the decades since, the structural vulnerabilities in riverside camps remain critically unaddressed.
Meteorologists now point to climate-driven extremes as key contributors to what they call a “once-rare, now routine” level of flash flood threat. Without major reforms, experts warn, Texas will continue facing mass-casualty weather events every summer.
