What started as a normal summer week at Camp Mystic turned into every parent’s worst nightmare when catastrophic flooding struck the Texas Hill Country early Friday morning. The 99-year-old Christian summer camp, home to 750 girls this week, was directly in the path of fast-rising waters that caught everyone off guard.
At least 20 children from the camp remain missing as search and rescue teams work around the clock to locate survivors in one of Texas’s deadliest flooding disasters in recent memory.
A beloved camp caught in nature’s fury
Camp Mystic has been a summer tradition for generations of Texas families since 1926. The camp operates two sites along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, where girls come to grow spiritually and develop confidence in what the camp calls a “wholesome Christian atmosphere.”
For nearly a century, the camp has prided itself on creating lifelong friendships and challenging campers to “be a better person for being at Mystic.” Dick and Tweety Eastland, the current owners, have been involved with the camp since 1974, continuing a family legacy that dates back to the 1930s.
The sprawling campus by the river features activities like horseback riding, tennis, and water sports. Videos on the camp’s website show girls playing in the very river that would later threaten their lives.
When the waters rose without warning
The flash flooding began around 4 a.m. Friday after heavy overnight rain caused the Guadalupe River to swell beyond its banks. Water swept into Kerr County and surrounding areas with such devastating speed that officials couldn’t issue evacuation orders in time.
“This happened very quickly, over a very short period of time, that could not be predicted, even with the radar,” explained Dalton Rice, city manager for Kerrville, the county seat. “This happened within less than a two-hour span.”
The river reached its second-highest level on record, according to the National Weather Service. Bodies were found in vehicles that had been swept away from upstream areas, highlighting the incredible force of the flooding.
I can only imagine the terror those counselors must have felt as they realized the magnitude of what was happening. One minute you’re responsible for normal camp activities, the next you’re facing a life-or-death emergency with hundreds of children in your care.
Families wait in agony for news
Camp Mystic sent an email to parents stating that if they haven’t been contacted directly, their child is accounted for. But for families who have received those devastating phone calls saying their daughters haven’t been located, the waiting is unbearable.
Dozens of families have turned to local Facebook groups, sharing pictures of their children and pleading for any information about their whereabouts. Some parents have received calls from safety officials confirming their worst fears — their daughters are among the missing.
The agonizing wait continues as mothers and fathers desperately hope for good news while fearing the worst. Earlier Friday, mothers of two campers told news outlets they were anxiously waiting to find out where their daughters are.
Massive rescue operation underway
Search and rescue teams are working through the night, using every available resource to locate survivors. At least 14 helicopters, 12 drones, and over 500 people from various units are conducting rescue operations throughout Kerr County.
More than 237 people had been evacuated or rescued as of late Friday, according to Major General Thomas M. Suelzer with the Texas Military Department. Over two-thirds of those rescues were conducted by helicopter, with crews pulling adults and children from trees and rooftops.
Gov. Greg Abbott has promised that search and rescue teams will comb flooded areas “nonstop” from Friday into Saturday. The scale of the operation reflects the severity of the disaster and the determination to find every missing person.
A disaster of historic proportions
The flash floods have killed at least 24 people in Texas Hill Country, making this one of the deadliest flooding events in the region’s history. Officials haven’t released the identities of the deceased or provided details about the total number of people who may be missing.
While Camp Mystic bears the heartbreaking burden of missing children, about 18 other camps along the river have accounted for all their participants. This provides some relief but highlights how the flooding’s impact varied dramatically depending on location and timing.
The river had crested in Kerrville and Comfort by Friday evening, but downstream sections weren’t expected to peak until early Saturday. The National Weather Service projected flood levels that would continue to hamper rescue efforts.
Support from the highest levels
President Donald Trump has promised federal assistance, telling reporters on Air Force One that his administration is working with Governor Abbott on the response. “We’ll take care of them,” Trump said, calling the flooding terrible and shocking.
Abbott has issued a disaster declaration, mobilizing state resources for the rescue and recovery effort. The federal response demonstrates the national significance of this tragedy and the commitment to finding every missing person.
A community holds its breath
As rescue operations continue into the night, the Texas Hill Country community is united in hope and prayer. Camp Mystic, which has brought joy to thousands of families over 99 years, now finds itself at the center of an unthinkable tragedy.
The next 24 hours will be critical as search teams work against time and challenging conditions. For the families waiting for news, each passing hour feels like an eternity as they hope for miracles and reunion with their children.
