Pictured: All the girls killed after Texas floods ravaged Camp Mystic
Eleven girls are missing from Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, and five of their fellow campers have died after the rushing waters destroyed the all-girls private Christian summer camp.
The total death toll has risen to 59, including 29 children, after the Guadalupe River flooded and surged by up to 30 feet above its usual water level Friday.
The beloved director of Camp Mystic, Richard 'Dick' Eastland, 70, died while trying to save girls as a month's worth of rain dropped in a matter of minutes.
One week before the tragedy, the camp shared videos on social media of the campers happily prancing around on stage during their first term chorus and dance production.
The youngest campers slept on low-laying 'flats' inside the camp's cabins, whereas older girls slept in cabins on higher ground, according to the NYT.
Most of the missing girls are from the younger age bracket, who were sleeping just yards away from the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that some 750 girls had been staying at the camp when the floodwaters hit.
Here is what we know about all of the girls who died in the flood:
Renee Smajstrla, 8
The family of an eight-year-old Renee Smajstrla has confirmed that she was among those who lost her life during the tragic floods.
Her uncle, Shawn Salta, shared on Facebook: 'We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday.
'She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.'
Janie Hunt, 9
The mother of Dallas girl Janie Hunt confirmed to local media her daughter was one of the campers killed in the flood.
'We are just devastated,' she told NBC 5.
Sarah Marsh, 8
Alabama native Sarah Marsh died after the waters swept through Camp Mystic, according to her family.
'Thank you for the outpouring of love and sympathy! We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives. She will live on in our hearts forever! We love you so much sweet Sarah,' her grandmother said, according to The Kerrville Daily Times.
Lila Bonner, 9
The family of Lila Bonner, who was sharing a cabin at the camp with her best friend Eloise Peck, confirmed her passing to NBC News.
'In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time,' the family said.
'We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly for others to be spared from this tragic loss.'
Eloise Peck, 8
Dallas girl Eloise Peck, who recently finished second grade at Bradfield Elementary with her best friend Lili, also died in the flood.
'Eloise was literally friends with everyone. She loved spaghetti but not more than she loved dogs and animals,' her mother, Missy Peck, told FOX 4.
'She passed away with her cabinmate and best friend Lila Bonner who also died. Eloise had a family who loved her fiercely for the 8 years she was with us. Especially her Mommy.'
Multiple people lost their lives in the biblical flooding who were not attending Camp Mystic.
The death toll currently stands at 59 - including 38 adults.
Texas's Division of Emergency Management predicted the number of dead as a result of catastrophic flooding in Kerrville would top 100, sources told Daily Mail.
People have been desperately posting about their missing friends and relatives in a bid to help the search effort to find them, following the flooding.
Among the children, who were not attending the camp but tragically lost their lives, are two other young sisters who visiting their grandparents when the flood rushed through their cabin.
Blair Harber, 13
Two sisters, Blair and Brooke Harber, were among those who were killed in the deadly Texas floods.
They were not attending Camp Mystic when the natural disaster struck.
They were with their grandparents at a cabin along the Guadalupe River when they were swept away, reported FOX 4.
The girls' parents were staying at another cabin and are safe. Their grandparents, Charlene and Mike Harber, are missing.
Brooke Harber, 11
Brooke Harber, Blair's younger sister, was confirmed dead over the holiday weekend.
Blair and Brooker were eighth grade and sixth grade students respectively at St. Rita Catholic School, according to their priest, Father Joshua J. Whitfield.
'Even if we may never fully understand why such tragedies happen, we are called to respond with love, compassion, and prayer,' Whitfield said.
'We will honor Blair and Brooke's lives, the light they shared, and the joy they brought to everyone who knew them.'
Missing girls from Camp Mystic
At least 11 girls from Camp Mystic are missing from the camp.
One counselor is also still unaccounted for, Larry Leitha, the county sheriff, said on Sunday morning.
Camp Mystic attendees Kellyanne Lytal and Lainey Landry are among the missing children, according to KENS 5.
Wrecked father, Ty Badon, told CNN on Saturday that his daughter and her friends are missing and have not been seen or heard from since the disastrous rush of water.
His daughter, Joyce Badon, and her friends, Ella Cahill, Reese Manchaca and Aiden Heartfield were last heard from around 4am on Friday.
Authorities and search teams are still making their way through the wreckage to hopefully account for those missing.
Haunting photos from Sunday showed teams searching through vegetation, as young girls accompanied by adults walked around what is left of Camp Mystic.
On Sunday, Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Texas amid a swirl of criticism of his administration for making major cuts to federal funding, impacting agencies like FEMA which lead the response to natural disasters.
'I just signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.
'These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing.
'The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders.
'Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was on the ground yesterday with Governor Greg Abbott, who is working hard to help the people of his Great State.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Heroic counselors who died saving drowning kids from Texas floods: 'Last act of kindness and sacrifice'
Two brave Camp Mystic staffers died trying to save young girls from the horrific Texas floods as authorities continue their urgent search for missing campers. Camp Mystic father-figure and owner Richard 'Dick' Eastland, 70, died while attempting to rescue girls from the Bubble Inn cabin, one of the closest to the river. College-bound counselor Chloe Childress, 18, was working at the Bubble Inn cabin, which housed the youngest campers, when the waters came rushing in. The two heroic staffers were among the 27 confirmed dead at the all-girls Christian summer camp after the Guadalupe River flooded and surged by up to 30 feet above its usual water level on the Fourth of July. A beloved director from neighboring Heart O'the Hills Camp was also killed when the flood came rushing in. Fortunately, no children were present at the time as the camp was in between sessions. Roughly 750 children were likely asleep while the devastating flooding sent a wall of water through the century-old Camp Mystic. Camp Mystic issued a statement Monday morning confirming an updated number of fatalities from the harrowing natural disaster over the weekend. 'We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls,' the camp said in a statement posted on its website. 'We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from the community, first responders, and officials at every level.' At least 10 girls and one Camp Mystic counselor are still unaccounted for. Here is what we know about the heroic employees who lost their lives: Richard 'Dick' Eastland, 70 Camp Mystic Director Richard 'Dick' Eastland, 70, died while trying to rescue campers from the biblical rushing waters. Eastland's nephew, Gardner Eastland, confirmed the death in a Facebook post on Saturday. The camp director's wife, Tweety, was found safe at their home, according to Texas Public Radio. Father-of-four Eastland was attempting to rescue girls from Bubble Inn cabin, located about 150 yards from the river's edge and about 15 feet above the water level, reported The Washington Post. His body was found along with three girls he was trying to save. The Eastlands have owned and operated Camp Mystic since 1974, and many viewed him as a father figure at the camp. 'It doesn't surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers,' The Kerrville Daily Times guest columnist Paige Sumner said in a tribute to Eastland. 'Dick was the father figure to all of us while we were away from home at Camp Mystic for six weeks. 'He was the father of four amazing boys, but he had hundreds of girls each term who looked up to him like a dad. I would never have taken a fishing class if it wasn't taught by my new friend Dick.' The couple has 11 grandchildren, and several of their children and their partners assist in managing the camp. According to the camp website, the Eastland's oldest son, Richard, manages the camp's kitchen; their youngest son, Edward, and his wife are directors of Camp Mystic Guadalupe River. The couple attended the University of Texas in Austin and reside at the campgrounds. Eastland is the third generation from his family to run the all-girls Christian summer camp since its founding in 1926. Chloe Childress, 18 Camp Mystic counselor Chloe Childress, 18, also lost her life in the flood. The Kinkaid School graduate was about to start studying at the University of Texas at Austin in the fall. 'Whether it was sharing her own challenges to ease someone's burden or quietly cheering a teammate or classmate through a tough day, Chloe made space for others to feel safe, valued, and brave,' Jonathan Eades, the head of The Kinkaid School, wrote in a letter to the school community. 'She understood what it meant to be part of a community, and more than that, she helped build one.' Childress worked in the Bubble Inn Cabin, which, alongside the Twins cabin, housed the youngest girls, aged 8 to 10. The cabins were less than 500 feet from the river and thus took in water from two directions: the Guadalupe River and a nearby creek, making the girls' escape particularly challenging. The bodies of nine of the girls and Childress have been found as of Monday morning, while counselor Katherine Ferruzzo and four campers remain missing. Jane Ragsdale, 68 The director of another Texas summer camp was also confirmed among the victims. Jane Ragsdale, 68, devoted her life to the Heart O'the Hills Camp, a summer camp for girls in the Texas Hill Country. She was a camper and counselor there herself in the 1970s before becoming a co-owner. By the 1980s, she had become director of the camp in Hunt. 'She was the heart of The Heart,' the camp said in a statement. 'She was our guiding light, our example, and our safe place. She had the rare gift of making every person feel seen, loved, and important.' Since the camp was between sessions, no children were staying there when the floodwaters rose. The camp's facilities, directly in the path of the flood, were extensively damaged and access to the site remained difficult, according to camp officials. The camp has been in existence since the 1950s. Camp officials said Ragsdale would be remembered for her strength and wisdom. 'We are heartbroken. But above all, we are grateful,' the camp said. 'Grateful to have known her, to have learned from her, and to carry her light forward.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Camp Mystic director's tragic final act to save girls from Texas floods as wall of water tore through cabins killing 27
THE director of Camp Mystic desperately tried to save young girls in a heartbreaking final act before the vacation spot was swamped by flooding. At least 27 campers and staffers were killed in the deluge that has been branded 'nothing short of horrific' by Texas governor Greg Abbott. 7 7 7 The death toll stands at 82 and dozens still remain missing. Dick Eastland and his wife, Tweety, were the third-generation of their family to manage the camp, having bought it in 1974. He was trying to rescue young campers when the flooding hit the camp on July 4, located around 80 miles northwest of San Antonio. The Christian summer camp was overwhelmed after the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes. Eastland's grandson, George, revealed his grandpa had died when the water crashed through the walls of the cabins. 'If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way—saving the girls that he so loved and cared for,' he wrote on Instagram. 'That's the kind of man my grandfather was. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and a mentor to thousands of young women. 'Although he no longer walks this earth, his impact will never fade in the lives he touched.' Eastland, who had previously fought brain cancer, was found dead near his car, as reported by the San Antonio Express News. His body was discovered near some of the others killed in the flooding. Two brothers in miracle escape from Texas floods after they swam for their lives as water reached top bunk in camp cabin Tweety, meanwhile, was found safe at the family home. Paige Sumner, a family friend, has led the tributes to the camp director. In an op-ed to the Kerrville Daily Times, she said the girls at the camp looked up to Eastland as if he was a 'father figure.' Dick Eastland's grandson's tribute DICK Eastland, the director of Camp Mystic, was killed in the floods while trying to save young girls. His grandson, George, penned a tribute on social media. "If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for. "That's the man my grandfather was. A husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to thousands of young women, he no longer walks this earth, but his impact will never leave the lives he touched. "Daddy Dicky, you were not just my grandpa, but my dear friend, fishing buddy, hunting guide, golf partner, avid Texas Longhorns fanatic, my #1 fan, and above all else: a hero. I remember looking out the window on my way to my first career playoff game as Kerrville gathered to send us off. "My entire family was busy and I didn't expect anyone to show, but he was there with a big poster hoisted above his head, and an even bigger smile. "I'm proud that I made you a grandfather Daddy Dicky, but blessed that you made me the man I am today. "Although I am devastated, I can't say I'm surprised that you sacrificed your life with the hopes of someone else's being saved. "Life cannot possibly be the same without you, but the Eastland family will continue to remain faithful during these times. "We love you Daddy Dicky." Source: Instagram 'Dick and Tweety were also role models in their loving relationship,' she penned. 'When we looked at them, they were still that much in love.' She revealed that the couple were kind and welcoming when meeting them for the first time. Sumner also highlighted how Eastland was a selfless character, who would put the needs of others first. 'It doesn't surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers,' she wrote. Ann Conner Yarbrough Armitage also wrote how it wasn't a surprise Eastland would try to save the lives of the children. ' He was so approachable, he always remembered my name, he was positive, kind and he loved his family,' she wrote on Facebook. 'This is an unspeakable loss.' Texas lawmaker August Pfluger also paid a glowing tribute to Eastland for his bravery. 'Camp Mystic's Dick Eastland no doubt gave his life attempting to save his campers,' he wrote on X. 'Thank you Mr. Eastland. We love you and miss you.' Camp Mystic officials have confirmed that 27 campers and counselors have died. Around 750 kids were at the camp when the floods hit, according to cops in Kerr County. VICTIMS IDENTIFIED Janie Hunt, who is related to Clark Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, is among those who have been killed. Eloise Peck, eight, and nine-year-old Lila Bonner have also been identified as among the victims. Sisters Blair and Brooke Harber were holding tightly onto each other when their bodies were found - 15 miles downriver, according to their school St. Rita Catholic Community. Brooke was described as an accomplished basketball and soccer player, while Blair was an avid member of the yearbook team. Blair was looking forward to starring in the 8th grade play, according to the school. The sisters sent their parents a final text saying: 'I love you,' before they drowned. Blair and Brooke's parents were staying in another cabin near Hunt. High school coach Reece Zunker and his wife, Paula, also died in the floods, while dad-of-two Julian Ryan was killed trying to save his family. Meanwhile, survivors have recalled the chaos that unfolded as the cabins were being flooded. Campers were washed away within minutes, Amanda Sue Jones told CNN. 'It was just immeasurably fast,' she added. Piers and Ruffin Boyett swam out of their cabins when it was flooding. "The cabins were flooding and the walls, they broke down," Piers told the ABC affiliate KSAT-TV. DEBRIS IN THE RIVER Volunteers taking part in the rescue mission have told how debris is slowing down the efforts. One person coined the operation 'nonstop turning and burning,' per CNN. Nick Sortor, who is part of Louisiana's United Cajun Navy, revealed pathways had to be created for rescue boats to access. Sortor said the river was filled with obstacles - some of which had to be chainsawed. Search teams have had to navigate snakes and debris as they comb the river. Meanwhile, Scott Ruskan, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, has been credited with saving 165 people, as reported by Good Morning America. He helped usher between 10 and 15 children at a time to helicopters, so they could be taken to safety. Kids were escorted onto Black Hawk UH-60 and MH-65 Dolphin aircraft to higher ground. Ruskan explained how he was trying to keep the children calm during the high-stakes rescue mission. He revealed that many of the survivors were without shoes and in their pajamas when they were evacuated, per The New York Post. Kristi Noem, the Director of Homeland Security, described Ruskan, who joined the Coast Guard in 2021, as an 'American hero,' saying he showed 'selfless courage.' Officials at the National Weather Service have come under scrutiny and they have defended their flood warnings and forecasts. The area that was impacted in Texas Hill Country is known as flash flood alley. Flood risks in areas of central Texas have been upgraded. Officials have warned that regions could be vulnerable to flash floods. 7 7 7
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Emotional CNN correspondent reveals her very personal connection to Camp Mystic as she reports from flood chaos
CNN 's Pamela Brown delivered an emotional report from Texas' flood-ravaged Camp Mystic, revealing that she attended the camp as a young girl. The camp in Kerr County was swallowed by floodwaters from the Guadalupe River Friday after flash-flooding the day before. Twenty-seven people from the camp were killed in the raging waters, while a counselor and 10 girls remain missing. At least 82 people have been confirmed dead. Brown, CNN's chief investigative correspondent, revealed her connection to the camp on Sunday while lamenting how 'so much innocence has now been lost.' 'It's surreal coming back here 30 years later,' she said. 'I was a 10-year-old little camper here filled with so much hope and joy.' Visibly troubled, Brown, 41, called the camp 'a magical place'. 'I'm overwhelmed with emotion, and I'm overwhelmed with memories,' she said. 'And I can't get over looking at those cabins right next to the Guadalupe River.' The veteran reporter said she found it hard to accept that a river that provided so much joy to her as a youngster has caused so much pain. 'It's just hard to wrap my head around,' she said. 'I can't stop thinking about those little girls who were in their decorated bunk beds and their trunks, waking up to horror. 'Now, all these girls, these sweet young campers, who had to evacuate and their families. 'And I just can't help but think about them and pray for them, and just hope that more are found alive.' Brown, 41, revealed even more on her Instagram account, posting memories and keepsakes from her time at Camp Mystic. The co-host of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer showed a series of letters she penned as a camper. She also published a video of a 'charm bracelet' she made and wore. 'I remember vividly being so excited about my tribe & picking out these charms with my mom to reflect what was important to me as a 10-year-old camper,' she wrote. During her coverage, Brown pointed out the 'cabins where the little girls were sleeping' when the flooding began. 'I can't stop thinking about the fact that I was a little camper in one of those cabins 30 years ago,' she said. As family members of missing campers were seen sifting through the rubble, Brown added: 'It's just too much to bear.' Shortly after, she and other reporters were evacuated from the campground to another site just up the road. The search for the 10 missing campers and counselor, meanwhile, continued into Monday morning. At least five girls from the camp have already been confirmed dead.
