At least 78 lives have been lost in central Texas due to severe flash floods, with an additional 41 individuals currently unaccounted for following substantial rainfall on Friday. A significant portion of the fatalities—68, including 28 children—occurred in Kerr County, which housed the affected Camp Mystic. Among the missing are ten girls and their counselor, prompting an extensive search-and-rescue operation that is now transitioning towards recovery, as officials warn that the death toll may rise with more storms predicted to hit the area in the coming days.
Three days post-flooding, rescue teams face treacherous conditions, including venomous snakes, as they sift through extensive debris across the region. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to exhaust all resources to locate every missing individual, recognizing the profound impact this disaster has had: “It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through.”
The catastrophic events unfolded early Friday as the Guadalupe River surged dramatically, with waters rising 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes while campers were asleep. The director of the camp, Richard "Dick" Eastland, along with various campers, tragically lost their lives in the incident.
Local volunteer Greg Froelick, a former Navy Seal, described grim discoveries of victims found as far as eight miles downstream from the camp, amid clothing and other items scattered throughout the river. Amid the uncertainty regarding the number of campers present for the Fourth of July weekend, the devastation along a key highway connecting Kerrville and Camp Mystic is evident, with numerous homes annihilated by the floods.
In response to the disaster, President Donald Trump has signed a major disaster declaration, channeling resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support the affected areas. Local residents have rallied together to assist with recovery, providing essential supplies and meals to those affected by the storm.
Compassionate gestures have emerged, including Alma Garcia, who traveled from San Antonio to deliver food to victims and volunteers, showcasing the spirit of community resilience. Global support has also echoed, as Pope Leo XIV extended his condolences and prayers to the victims’ families, recognizing the tragedy that struck Texas.
Amid the wreckage, local citizens remain hopeful and determined to aid their neighbors, standing united in the face of this devastating disaster.
