Flash flood devastates Texas Hill Country: 50 dead, 27 children missing

SAN ANTONIO (Texas), July 5: Over 50 people, including nine children, were killed as flash floods ravaged the Hill Country in Texas on Friday, reports Texas Public Radio.

Officials said Saturday evening that 27 girls are still missing from an old Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp set up on the river bank.

Camp Mystic Director Dick Eastland is among the dead.

The riverside retreat was hosting some 750 campers. Nearly 30 campers at the 99-year-old Hill Country institution are still missing after flooding devastated the area on Friday.

The downpour on Friday raised the water level in Guadalupe river up by 29 feet in 90 minutes sending cars, uprooted trees and other debris swirling through the brown water.

It is said a National Weather Service facing budget and staff cuts under the new Federal policy to reduce Government spending was unable to forecast “the amount of rain that we saw” filling the river up to 29 feet in 90 minutes overnight Thursday. The camps along the Guadalupe therefore could not be evacuated on time.

Eight hundred and fifty people have been rescued or evacuated so far.

The State has deployed hundreds of search and rescue personnel and more than a dozen helicopters to the region.

Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian girls’ summer camp, washed out

The Backstory: The disaster unfolded in the early hours of July 4, when torrential rains—remnants of Tropical Storm Barry—unleashed a wall of water that surged through the Texas Hill Country. The Guadalupe River rose an astonishing 26 feet in just 45 minutes, overwhelming communities and sweeping away homes, vehicles, and entire campsites.

Among the hardest-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian girls’ summer camp near Hunt, Texas. More than 700 campers were on site when the floodwaters struck before dawn. As of Saturday evening, 27 girls remained unaccounted for. Two campers—Renee Smajstrla, 8, and Janie Hunt, 9—were confirmed dead by their families.

“This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States,” said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly. “We had no reason to believe this was going to be anything like what’s happened here. None whatsoever”.

The National Weather Service had issued a flash flood emergency late Thursday, but the speed and intensity of the flooding caught many off guard. In Hunt, the river gauge failed after recording a 29-foot rise. Downstream in Kerrville and Comfort, the river surged past 21 and 29 feet, respectively.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick described the scene as “a destructive flood, taking property and sadly lives.” He confirmed that over 850 people had been rescued or evacuated, including some airlifted from trees and rooftops. The state deployed 14 helicopters, 12 drones, and nine rescue teams to assist in the ongoing search.

President Donald Trump called the flooding “terrible” and pledged federal assistance. Vice President JD Vance described the event as “an incomprehensible tragedy,” offering prayers for the victims and their families.

The region, often referred to as “Flash Flood Alley” due to its thin soil and steep terrain, is no stranger to flooding. But officials say this event has surpassed even the infamous 1987 flood that killed 10 teenagers in a church camp bus near Comfort.

Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster for Kerr and 13 other counties, unlocking emergency resources for rescue and recovery. “We will stop at nothing to ensure that every last person is found,” he said.

As the search continues, families wait anxiously for news. “We’re praying for all of those missing to be found alive,” said Lt. Gov. Patrick. “We’re doing everything we can to get in there.”