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Metro
35 minutes ago
- General
- Metro
Tributes to 'brave' Camp Mystic counselor, 18, who died saving children in Texas
A young counselor who helped build the Camp Mystic community was among more than two dozen at the camp who died in the Texas floodwaters. Chloe Childress, 18, had just graduated from The Kinkaid School in Houston and was working at the camp when the Guadalupe River flooding swept her and others away before daybreak on Friday. Childress was stationed at Bubble Inn Cabin, which housed the youngest girls, aged eight to 10, at the century-old Christian camp. Bubble Inn and Twins cabins were less than 500 feet from the river and close to a creek that overflowed simultaneously. The two bodies of water made it it especially difficult for the girls to escape. The bodies of Childress and nine other girls were found on Monday morning. '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,' wrote The Kinkaid School head Jonathan Eades in a letter to the community. 'She understood what it meant to be part of a community, and more than that, she helped build one.' Eades added that Childress 'was wise beyond her years, with a steady compassion that settled a room'. Childress began working at the camp in June shortly after graduating high school, according to her LinkedIn profile. She was set to attend the University of Texas at Austin in the fall, before her life was tragically cut short. The body of Camp Mystic director Richard 'Dick' Eastland, 70, was also recovered with the bodies of three girls he had attempted to save. Eastland was trying to rescue girls from the Bubble Inn cabin, which was 15 feet above the normal water level, The Washington Post reported. More Trending As of Monday afternoon, the bodies of Katherine Ferruzzo, a 68-year-old counselor, and 10 campers were still missing. A total of 27 campers and counselors vanished during the worst flash floods the US has seen in decades. At least 90 people have been killed across the Hill Country as storms continue to batter the region. 'Texas is grieving right now. The pain, the shock of what has transpired these last few days has broken the heart of our state,' said Senator Ted Cruz. The Camp Mystic deaths, he added, are 'every parent's nightmare'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Girl, 8, killed after illegal firework strike on Independence Day MORE: Nissan recalls 480,000 vehicles over fears their engines might fail MORE: Last words of hero dad who died helping his family escape devastating Texas floods
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- General
- 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.'
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Heartbreaking photo shows entire cabin of Camp Mystic girls and counselors who were washed away
A heartbreaking photo shows an entire cabin of Camp Mystic girls and counselors who were washed away in the horrific Texas floods. The 13 girls and two counselors were staying in Camp Mystic's Bubble Inn cabin, which, alongside the Twins cabin, housed the youngest of the 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 creek nearby, making the girls' escape particularly challenging. The bodies of nine of the girls and counselor Chloe Childress, 18, have been found as of Monday morning, while counselor Katherine Ferruzzo and four campers remain missing. Those confirmed dead are: Janie Hunt, Margaret Bellows, Lila Bonner, Lainey Landry, Sarah Marsh, Linnie McCown, Winne Naylor, Eloise Peck, Renee Smajstrla and Mary Stevens. The co-owner of the Christian girls camp, Dick Eastland, reportedly died while trying to save the girls in the Twins and Bubble Inn cabins. His body was found in a black SUV alongside those of three girls he had tried to save, reported The Washington Post. But many of the girls in the cabins were unable to flee as the water rose 20 feet in just 90 minutes when the catastrophic floods hit on Friday morning. Camp Mystic confirmed Monday that at least 27 campers and counselors had died in the floods. '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 community, first responders, and officials at every level.' Families were allowed to look around the camp beginning Sunday morning. One girl was seen walking out of a building ringing a large bell in an attempt to find survivors, while a man whose daughter was rescued from a cabin on the highest point in the camp walked the riverbank looking in clumps of trees and under big rocks. A teenage girl had tears running down her face as they slowly drove away and she gazed through the open window at the wreckage. Across the state, the floods killed at least 82 people. Governor Greg Abbott said Sunday that a further 41 people confirmed to be unaccounted for across the state and more could be missing. In Kerr County, home to youth camps in the Texas Hill Country, searchers have found the bodies of 68 people, including 28 children, Sheriff Larry Leitha said Sunday afternoon. Fatalities in nearby counties brought the total number of deaths to 82 as of Sunday evening. Rescuers have continued maneuvering through challenging terrain filled with snakes as they look for the missing. The devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio, has drawn a massive search effort as officials face questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions. Beyond the Camp Mystic campers unaccounted for, the number of missing from other nearby campgrounds and across the region had not been released. 'We don't even want to begin to estimate at this time,' Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said Saturday, citing the likely influx of visitors during the July Fourth holiday. President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration Sunday for Kerr County and said he would likely visit Friday: 'I would have done it today, but we'd just be in their way.' 'It's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible,' he told reporters.
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The faces of the Texas floods: Tragic victims, a heroic father, brave camp directors and families clinging to hope as the death toll climbs to 82
Tales of devastation and heroic sacrifice continue emerge from Texas Hill Country where horrifying floods have killed scores and ravaged the area. At least 82 people were declared dead - with dozens more missing - when torrential rains created a near-Biblical flash flooding that caught thousands of Lone Star residents by surprise. Most of the fatalities have occurred at the epicenter of the floods in Kerr County, where Camp Mystic, a girls' summer camp, was washed away early on July 4. The camp was decimated when the Guadalupe River rose more than 26 feet in just 45 minutes. At least six campers aged eight and nine have been confirmed as deceased, along with counselor Chloe Childress and director Dick Eastland. Eleven girls are still missing and make up part of the 41 people who remain unaccounted for in the region, according to officials. As families anxiously await updates, the authorities were monitoring an additional 'wall of water' that threatened to engulf central Texas again on Sunday and sparked fresh evacuation orders. At least 28 bodies, including those of 10 children, have yet to be formally identified. Here are the faces of the disaster so far. Heroic father Julian Ryan, 27, is being hailed as a hero after he used his final moments to save his family from the fast-moving waters. The father-of-three selflessly punched through a window to help his fiancée, their children and his mother escape to the roof. Despite the severe injury, Ryan stayed focused on getting his family out safely. But with emergency responders unable to reach them in time, the father of two succumbed to his wounds hours later. But, the glass tore through his arm, severing an artery and nearly detaching the limb. His final words were, 'I'm sorry, I'm not going to make it. I love y'all.' Campers At least seven girls aged between eight and nine-years-old died after their dorm was deluged by flash flooding. The campers at Camp Mystic in Hunt barely stood a chance after the powerful current slammed into them as they slept. They have been identified as Renee Smajstrla, eight, Janie Hunt, nine, Sarah Marsh, eight, Lila Bonner, nine, Eloise Peck, eight, Lainey Landry, nine, and Anna Margaret Bellows, eight. Smajstrla was pictured enjoying her time at the camp the day before she was tragically killed. Meanwhile, Hunt's loss was being mourned by her family, the owners of the Kansas City Chiefs. Clark Hunt's wife Tavia posted a touching tribute to the beloved young cousin. Marsh was described as a 'ray of light' by her grandmother, while Bonner and Peck were best friends who died alongside each other. Landry's cousin confirmed that she is 'in heaven' and stated, 'the fact that she was found is somewhat of a miracle itself'. Renne Smajstrla, 8, and Lainey Landry, 9, tragically lost their lives when flood waters ravaged Camp Mystic in Hunt Sarah Marsh (left), 8, came from Alabama to attend Camp Mystic before she was swept away and killed. She died along with Janie Hunt (right), who was aged 9 Bellows' mom confirmed late Saturday that her daughter's body was pulled from the waters. Several girls from the camo are missing according to officials, although the exact figure is dynamic as rescue efforts continue. Selfless camp staff At least two camp employees are among the victims of the floods. 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 died in a helicopter on the way to a Houston hospital, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly told the Washington Post. The Eastlands have owned and operated Camp Mystic since 1974, and many viewed him as a father figure at the camp. Camp counselor Chloe Childress also lost her life in the disaster. 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.' Missing fire chief A frantic search is underway for a fire chief who was taken by flood waters while responding to a call out. Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Michael Phillips went missing while responding to a water rescue at 4.30am on Saturday. Phillips was called out to Cow Creek in Travis County. His pulverized emergency vehicle has been recovered, but there is no sign of the fire chief yet. 'The search continues,' Burnet County Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio told CNN Sunday. Beloved soccer coach and wife Reece Zunker and his wife Paula are among those who died in the devastating floods, and their two young children are still missing. The couple's family and local soccer team confirmed their deaths on social media, while one relative said their house was spotted 'floating down the Guadalupe River'. Tivy Boys Soccer team paid tribute to their coach in a Facebook post, saying he 'rebuilt the soccer program and left a legacy'. 'His passion for his players, students, co-workers, community and his family will never be forgotten,' the team wrote. Dozens of people commented on the post to share the 'incredible' impact he had on their lives. Tragic sisters 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. Blair was 13, her sister was 11-years-old. The girls 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. Beloved camp director 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 Texas Hill Country. She was a camper and counselor there herself in the 1970s before becoming a co-owner. By the 1980s, she was 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.' Grandma on her way to work The last time Tanya Burwick's family heard from her was a frantic phone call about the floodwaters as she headed to work at a Walmart early Friday in the San Angelo area. When Burwick didn't show up for work, her employer filed a missing persons report and sent a colleague to look for her. Police investigating the 62-year-old's disappearance found Burwick's unoccupied SUV fully submerged later that day. Her body was found the next morning blocks from the vehicle. 'She lit up the room and had a laugh that made other people laugh,' said Lindsey Burwick, who added that her mom was a beloved parent, grandparent and colleague to many. Missing friends The father of Joyce Badon (left) said she and friend Ella Cahill (right) are missing with two others 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. As of Sunday, there was still no update on their whereabouts. Entire family of six Five members of the same family are currently missing, according to Xavier Ramos who was camping with them in Ingram when the floods hit. His cousins Tasha Ramos and Kendall Ramos, stepfather Cody Crossland, his mom Michelle Crossland and his uncle Joel Ramos were all unaccounted for as of Sunday. His other cousin Devyn Smith, 23, was dramatically rescued after being swept around 12 miles down stream by the floods. Smith was lifted to safety after local man Carl Jeter spotted her clinging onto a tree near his house. 'She was screaming, "help, help, help",' Jeter told KSAT as he described the incredible moment she was rescued. Quick-thinking counselors Amid the chaos and confusion of the floods, two teenage counselors in a neighboring camp managed to keep calm and protect survivors. Silvana Garza and Maria Paula were tasked with putting on a 'happy face' after terrified campers were deposited at their location. Though they were scared themselves, they sprang into action, they told NMas. 'Us as counselors, we started to write our names on our skin, anywhere that was visible. We did the same for the girls, wrote their names anywhere that was easy to see,' Paula said. 'We told them to pack a bag, to pack their favorite stuff animal. We didn't know if we were going to be evacuated or not. We were just waiting.' Silvana explained that the young girls began to catch on that something tragic had happened. When they learned they were going to be evacuated as well, Silvana said chaos ensued. 'All of the girls started to go crazy, some were crying because they didn't want to leave,' she said. 'Others wanted their parents. I really don't know how to explain it. It was something awful.' The girls said that they didn't have their cell phones during the event and weren't initially told about the fatalities. Silvana admitted that she didn't understand the magnitude of the tragedy until they evacuated.
Cedar News
17 hours ago
- General
- Cedar News
Chloe Childress, a Camp Mystic counselor, has been found and did not survive the Texas Flood
Chloe Childress, a Camp Mystic counselor, has been found and did not survive the #TexasFloods. 😭
