Camp Hit by Devastating Texas Floods Shares Tragic Update: ‘Our Hearts Are Broken'
'Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe river,' the camp posted to its website Monday. 'Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.'
The organization said a number of its staff are among the dead, although the exact figure has not yet been disclosed. They added they remain in communication with state and local emergency responders as they continue 'deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.'
'We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level,' it added. 'We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.'
A more than 100-year-old private Christian summer camp for girls, Camp Mystic found itself suddenly deluged by powerful floodwaters late last week after the nearby river surged following a spate of severe thunderstorms. As of early afternoon Monday, the death toll in the region stands at 82 and rising.
Three of the deceased campers have already been identified: Janie Hunt, 9; Renee Smajstrla, 8; and Sarah Marsh, 8. Hunt was a cousin of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, and great-granddaughter of oil billionaire William Herbert Hunt.
Chloe Childress, an 18-year-old counselor, is among the staff known to have died when the waters swept through the site, along with camp director Dick Eastland as he attempted to save a number of the girls from going under.
Both President Donald Trump and his former cost-cutting chief Elon Musk have faced increasing public criticism as the disaster has unfolded for their deep cuts to public weather services under DOGE, not least after Texas officials said forecasting failures had left residents wholly unprepared for the deluge.
The president has said he will 'probably' visit the scene of the deadly flash floods on Friday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Yahoo
Oregon K9 teams to aid in search for missing Texas flood victims
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two local K9 teams are joining others from across the country to aid in the search for those lost during the catastrophic Texas floods. According to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, their K9 teams, made up of volunteer handlers and their dogs, are being deployed at the request of Texas state officials. Cram Fire approaches megafire status, crosses 90K acres The floods originally began just before daybreak on July 4, when destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet on the Guadalupe River, washing away homes and vehicles. The waters laid waste to the and an all-girls Christian summer camp, Camp Mystic, lost at least 27 campers and counselors. So far, officials estimate the floods have killed over 132 people. After search operations were temporarily paused due to threats of more flooding in the area, FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue teams fully resumed operations on Monday, Here is where extreme drought can now be found in Oregon At a news conference the same day, authorities said 101 people remain missing, including 97 in the Kerrville area. The other four were swept away in other counties. Swift water rescue teams have also been sent to Uvalde, Del Rio and Concan in anticipation of possible flooding in those communities on the Frio River, officials added. 'This is incredibly difficult work, but it's also profoundly important,' said Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley. 'Our hearts are with the victims, their loved ones, and the communities facing unimaginable loss. We're honored to lend our support however we can.' The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
21-07-2025
- Axios
Number missing in Texas floods drops from 97 to 3, Kerr County officials say
The number of people missing in Texas' catastrophic flooding has fallen to three from 160 in the immediate aftermath of the extreme weather event, said Kerr County officials as the search enters a third week. The big picture: The July 4 flooding killed at least 135 people — with 107 fatalities occurring in Kerr County, including children at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls, along the banks of the Guadalupe River. The last missing persons count six days ago was 97. Zoom in: Officials did not immediately detail what accounted for the considerable drop, though Kerrville Police Department's Jonathan Lamb said in a Sunday statement: "This process takes time, but is essential to ensure that every lead is thoroughly followed and each person is properly accounted for." The Kerrville Police Department noted a Saturday Facebook post, "Through extensive follow-up work among state and local agencies, many individuals who were initially reported as missing have been verified as safe and removed from the list." What's next: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called a special legislative session on the tragedy that will convene in Austin, starting Monday. "A select committee is expected to conduct a hearing in Kerr County on July 31," according to a Sunday post on the county's Facebook page. What we're watching: "While the updated figure offers some relief, searchers remain focused on reuniting the three individuals who are still unaccounted for with their families," per Lamb's statement. "State and local officials continue to work with urgency and care to locate them, while supporting affected communities through the ongoing recovery process." Between the lines: Scientists say the record rainfall event that triggered the flooding underscores how climate change can make extreme precipitation events even worse.
Politico
20-07-2025
- Politico
3 people are still missing from deadly July 4 floods in Texas county, down from nearly 100
The death toll in Kerr County, 107, held steady for much of this week even as the intensive search continued. The flash floods killed at least 135 people in Texas over the holiday weekend, with most deaths along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, about 60 miles northwest of San Antonio. Just before daybreak on July 4, the destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the Guadalupe, washing away homes and vehicles. The floods laid waste to the Hill Country, a popular tourist destination where campers seek out spots along the river amid the rolling landscape. It is naturally prone to flash flooding because its dry, dirt-packed soil cannot soak up heavy rain. Vacation cabins, youth camps campgrounds fill the riverbanks and hills of Kerr County, including Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian summer camp for girls. Located in a low-lying area of a region known as 'flash flood alley,' Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and counselors. The flooding was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, experts said, and it moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system. In Kerrville, about 100 miles west of Austin, local officials have come under scrutiny over whether residents were adequately warned about the rising waters. President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have pushed back aggressively against questions about how well local authorities responded to forecasts of heavy rain and the first reports of flash flooding. Crews have been searching for victims using helicopters, boats and drones. Earlier efforts were hampered by rain forecasts, leading some crews to hold off or stop because of worries about more flooding.
