KERRVILLE — At least 24 people are confirmed dead and dozens more remain missing after sudden floods swept through central Texas on Friday, inundating communities and leaving a Christian girls’ summer camp in crisis.
A wall of water surged along the Guadalupe River, rising 26 feet in under 45 minutes, catching residents and visitors off guard. Among the missing are up to 25 girls from Camp Mystic, located just outside Kerrville, 64 miles northwest of San Antonio. The camp was hosting 750 children for the July 4 weekend.
The state has declared emergencies across affected counties. Washed-out roads, destroyed cabins, and downed communication lines have severely limited rescue access. The camp reported it has no electricity, running water, or Wi-Fi. “The highway has washed away, so we are struggling to get more help,” a camp statement read.
Rescue teams have deployed helicopters, drones, and inflatable boats. A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was seen airlifting people from trees and rooftops. Search operations are expected to continue overnight until all individuals are located.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick described the situation as “a destructive flood,” adding that the river’s rapid rise left little time to respond. “It took lives. It took property,” Patrick said. “But if parents haven’t been contacted, their children are accounted for. Some just may not be reachable right now.”
Witnesses described the devastation. “That RV was floating away with kids screaming inside,” said Bud Bolton, recalling the scene at a nearby recreational vehicle park. Park resident Thomas Rux said floodwaters swept away his vehicle moments after emergency crews ordered him to evacuate. “It all happened so fast,” he said.
Lorena, a restaurant owner in the area, described the aftermath: “It’s total devastation. Helicopters are flying in, rescuing people trapped in trees. It’s bad.”
The National Weather Service initially forecasted up to 8 inches of rain. However, actual rainfall exceeded projections, overwhelming creeks and tributaries feeding into the Guadalupe. Officials with the Texas Division of Emergency Management said they met Thursday to assess the forecast, but the volume and speed of the flood were not predicted.
Camp Mystic enrolls girls after completing the second grade. The sudden rise in water left little time for camp leaders to react. “We didn’t know this flood was coming,” Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said during a press briefing. “There is no flood warning system in this area.” He compared the disaster to the 1987 flood in nearby Comfort, where 10 teenagers drowned after a church camp bus was swept off the road.
President Donald Trump called the disaster “shocking” and offered federal assistance. Emergency crews have urged outsiders to avoid traveling to the area, warning that access remains hazardous.
Kerr County Sheriff’s Office has advised anyone living near the Guadalupe River or nearby streams to move to higher ground immediately as more rainfall is expected.
The Hill Country and Concho Valley regions remain under a disaster declaration as the state braces for continued severe weather.
