Latest news with #HadleyHanna
ABC News
6 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Hundreds of girls were 'living their best life' at Texas summer camp. Then disaster struck
Nestled among large oak and cypress trees on the banks of the glistening Guadalupe River in Texas, Camp Mystic was a summer paradise. Girls aged between seven and 17 would spend days in the sun, kayaking, fishing, riding horses, and performing choreographed dance routines. At night, they would share bunks in large cabins with names such as Wiggle Inn and Chatter Box. Photos showed the idyllic scenes, as smiling campers posed for the camera with arms draped across each other's shoulders. Carrie Hanna's eight-year-old daughter Hadley was having the time of her life attending the all-girls camp for the first time. "She seemed to be loving camp," Ms Hanna told CNN. She shared a photo of her daughter leaning against a tree with a big smile, wearing a yellow dress with frilled sleeves. "She is the most joyful, happy kid," Ms Hanna said. For nearly a century, the camp had been a haven for local girls looking to gain confidence and independence. It is now the site of one of the deadliest flood disasters in recent Texas history. Hadley is among the 10 girls and a counsellor still missing. At least 79 people have been killed across central Texas, among them were 28 children. There were 750 children staying across the 725-acre camp when torrential rainstorms hit overnight on Friday, July 4, local time. The Guadalupe River rose to near-historic levels in a matter of minutes, catching local officials off guard. The raging floodwaters reached treetops and the roofs of cabins as girls slept, washing some of them away. Eight-year-old Renee Smajstrla was among those killed. A photo of Ms Smajstrla was sent to her family just a day before the disaster struck. "We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday," her uncle Shawn Salta wrote on Facebook. Parents of Eloise Peck confirmed that their eight-year-old daughter and her best friend did not survive Friday's flooding. "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 cabin-mate and best friend Lila Bonner who also died." Heart O' the Hills, another all-girls camp that sits along the Guadalupe River, was also right in the path of Friday's flood. The camp's co-owner and director, Jane Ragsdale, who was described as the "the heart of The Heart", was killed. Videos of 68-year-old Ms Ragsdale strumming a guitar and singing to campers were posted on the camp's Facebook page alongside the words: "Life is good today. So keep singing 'til we meet, again." By Friday afternoon, Texas Game Wardens had arrived at Camp Mystic and were evacuating campers. The first responders were met with scenes of devastation. Windows in the cabins were shattered by the force of the water. Blankets, teddy bears and other belongings were caked in mud and strewn throughout twisted metal bed-frames. A pick-up truck balanced precariously on two wheels, its side lodged halfway up a tree. A wall was torn entirely off one building, the interior empty except for a Texas flag and paintings hanging high along one side. "It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through," Texas Governor Greg Abbott said. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick recounted how some campers were able to escape. He said a counsellor smashed a window so girls could climb out of their cabin, swimming through floodwaters in their pyjamas to safety. "These little girls, they swam for about 10 or 15 minutes," Mr Patrick told Fox News. "Can you imagine, in the darkness and the rushing waters, and trees coming by you, and rocks come on you?" Camp Mystic co-owner Richard Eastland was killed while trying to rescue campers, according to Texas Public Radio. The 70-year-old, whose death was confirmed by his nephew on Facebook, had been involved with the camp since 1974. Rescuers scoured the riverbanks in hopes of finding survivors. A rope was tied so girls could hang on as they walked across a bridge, the floodwaters rushing around their knees. Elinor Lester, 13, said she was evacuated with her cabin-mates by helicopter after wading through floodwaters. She remembered startling awake about 1:30am as thunder crackled and water pelted the cabin windows. Ms Lester was among the older girls housed on elevated ground known as Senior Hill. Cabins housing the younger campers are situated along the riverbanks and were the first to flood, she said. Katharine Somerville was a counsellor on the Cypress Lake side of Camp Mystic, where cabins were on higher ground than the Guadalupe River side. She said her 13-year-old campers were scared as their cabins were damaged and lost power in the middle of the night. "Our cabins at the tippity-top of hills were completely flooded with water," Ms Somerville told Fox News. "I mean, y'all have seen the complete devastation, we never even imagined that this could happen." Ms Somerville said the campers in her care were put on military trucks and evacuated, and that all were safe. Camp Mystic officials told parents that if they had not been directly contacted to assume their daughters were accounted for and safe. But officials cautioned parents not to assume the worst. Families were allowed to look around the camp beginning Sunday morning. A woman and a teenage girl, both wearing rubber waders, briefly went inside one of the cabins. At one point, the pair doubled over, sobbing before they embraced. The National Weather Service warned on Sunday that slow-moving thunderstorms threatened more flash floods over the saturated ground of central Texas. The governor said additional rounds of heavy rains lasting into Tuesday could produce more life-threatening flooding, especially in places already saturated. But he vowed to continue the search. "We won't stop until we find every girl who was in those cabins," Mr Abbott posted on social media platform X after a visit to the site. Amid the frantic search for his daughter, Ty Badon said he had come across the body of a young boy. He was still holding out hope for his 21-year-old daughter Joyce, who had spent the weekend at a home along the Guadalupe River with three friends. His daughter had been on the phone and said "they just got washed away," and then a few seconds later, the phone went dead, Mr Baden told CNN. "We pray that all four of them are still alive."
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
2 Dallas girls killed in flooding at Camp Mystic, families say
Two North Texas girls missing from Camp Mystic in the wake of catastrophic Central Texas flooding have been confirmed dead: Lila Bonner, 9, and Eloise Peck, 8, CBS News Texas confirmed Sunday. A sign posted outside the home of 8-year-old Eloise Peck stated that "she lost her life in the tragic flooding." The family asked for privacy to mourn. Bonner's family confirmed on Saturday that she was among the children who had died in the flood. Bonner and Peck were two of the three girls from Dallas — the other being 8-year-old Hadley Hanna — who were among a group of missing Camp Mystic campers, unaccounted for following the flash floods that swept through Kerr County early Friday. Eloise Peck (left) and Lila Bonner, 9, both of Dallas (right), have been confirmed dead after being reported missing from Camp Mystic following the Central Texas flash floods. During a news conference on Sunday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at least 10 Camp Mystic campers were still missing, along with one counselor. It was the first solid number officials have provided regarding campers who remain unaccounted for, after estimating Saturday that it could be as high as 27. There were about 750 children at Camp Mystic when the floods hit, the sheriff said earlier. Hadley Hanna is among those still missing. Dallas sisters among the dozens killed in Central Texas flooding Two sisters from Dallas - 13-year-old Blair Harber and 11-year-old Brooke Harber - were among the dozens of lives lost in the catastrophic floods that swept through Central Texas early Friday. Their deaths were confirmed Saturday by St. Rita Catholic Community. Blair was preparing to enter eighth grade, and Brooke was set to begin sixth grade at St. Rita Catholic School. The sisters were not attending Camp Mystic, but were in the area when the flooding occurred. Dozens dead, many still missing As of Sunday afternoon, at least 79 have died and at least 41 more are missing, according to officials, following the devastating flash floods that slammed the Texas Hill Country. Rescue operations remain ongoing across the area. Authorities caution that not all of the campers are confirmed missing — some may be unreachable due to storm-related communication outages — but the uncertainty has left families anxiously awaiting updates. According to the camp's website, children become eligible to attend Camp Mystic, located in Hunt, Texas, along the Guadalupe River, after completing the second grade. Trump signs federal disaster declaration for Kerr County President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County on Sunday morning, at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request. On Saturday, Abbott said he visited the summer camp for the first time, calling the scene "horrendously ravaged" in a social media post. Abbott encouraged all Texans to pause in reflection and prayer Sunday, and to also "seek God's wisdom, peace, and mercy in this time of need for so many Texas families." Large-scale response underway In response, authorities have launched a large-scale search effort, deploying helicopters, Texas game wardens, and specialized rescue teams. Several children have already been rescued from trees and other stranded locations. Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees Saturday and turned over rocks in the search for more than two dozen children from a girls' camp and many others missing after a wall of water blasted down a river in the Texas Hill Country. Col. Freeman Martin with the Texas Department of Public Safety said there are still unidentified victims at funeral homes, including adults and children.
CBS News
05-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
North Texas girl, 9, confirmed dead after Camp Mystic flooding in Central Texas
One of three North Texas girls missing from Camp Mystic in the wake of catastrophic Central Texas flooding has been confirmed dead, her family said Saturday. Lila Bonner, 9, of Dallas, was among 23 to 25 girls from the camp who had been unaccounted for following the flash floods that swept through Kerr County early Friday. North Texas girls among the still missing Among those still missing from North Texas are Hadley Hanna, 8, and Eloise Peck, both from Dallas. Hadley Hanna Lila Bonner, 9, of Dallas (right), has been confirmed dead after being reported missing from Camp Mystic following the Central Texas flash floods. Eloise Peck (left), also from Dallas, remains missing. Dozens dead, many still missing Officials say dozens have died as floodwaters continue to ravage the Hill Country. Rescue operations remain ongoing for the missing youths. Authorities caution that not all of the girls are confirmed missing — some may be unreachable due to storm-related communication outages — but the uncertainty has left families anxiously awaiting updates. According to the camp's website, children become eligible to attend Camp Mystic, located in Hunt, Texas, along the Guadalupe River, after completing the second grade. Large-scale response underway In response, authorities have launched a large-scale search effort, deploying 14 helicopters, Texas game wardens, and specialized rescue teams. Several children have already been rescued from trees and other stranded locations. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has publicly reassured families, stating that the state is doing "everything humanly possible" to locate and bring the campers to safety. "I want all of you to know, we will do everything humanly possible 24/7 — looking at every tree, overturning every rock, whatever it takes — if your child is one of those truly missing and not just out of touch, to find your daughter," Patrick said. Families turn to social media Meanwhile, families of the missing girls have turned to social media, sharing photos and heartfelt messages in hopes of gathering any information. Their posts reflect both the urgency and emotional toll of the situation. CBS News Texas is closely monitoring developments and remains committed to providing timely, accurate updates as new information emerges from both authorities and the families themselves.
New York Post
05-07-2025
- Climate
- New York Post
Two pals among those confirmed missing from Texas Christian camp after devastating flooding
The names of some of the nearly two dozen girls missing after floodwaters killed at least 13 people and swept away a Christian girls' summer camp in Texas are beginning to emerge as desperate families await news from search and rescue crews. About 23 girls are missing after torrential rains flooded the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, washing away cabins and buildings at Camp Mystic Thursday night into Friday. Most people were evacuated from the Christian girls' camp — attended by girls between the ages of 7 and 17 — as floodwaters rose, but some kids were left behind and believed to be lost in the rushing water. Advertisement 8 Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp, was evacuated Thursday night into Friday, but some girls were left behind and are not missing, officials said. KSATtv The Guadalupe River — on which Camp Mystic is perched in the San Antonio suburb of Hunt — rose more than 20 feet in just 90 minutes, the National Weather Service reported, a level of flooding the area hasn't seen since 1987 and forced evacuations throughout the region. At least 13 people have been killed in Kerr County as of Friday, though it remains unclear if any were the missing girls. Advertisement After Camp Mystic advised parents that if they haven't been directly contacted to assume their daughters are accounted for and safe, officials cautioned parents not to assume the worst. 'That does not mean they've been lost. They could be in a tree. They could be out of communication,' Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at a press conference. 'We're praying for all those missing to be found alive.' Below are the Camp Mystic girls who have confirmed missing so far: 8 Hadley Hannah, 8, is among the 23 girls missing in the floods that hit Camp Mystic in Texas Thursday night into Friday WFAA 8 Hadley Hanna, 8 Advertisement Hadley Hanna's parents told WFAA their cherubic 8-year-old was among the girls confirmed missing, and that they've rushed to Hunt from their Dallas home to be on hand for the search. 8 Laiey Landry is among the missing campers. CNN Weather Lainey Landry, 9 The mother of 9-year-old camper Lainey Landry told CNN her missing daughter was 'brave and sweet.' 8 Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner, two pals from Dallas, are reportedly missing after devastating floods struck Camp Mystic. Keenan Willard/X Eloise Peck Advertisement The Dallas girl was in the same cabin as several friends who have also been reported missing, her parents told Fox 4. Lila Bonner A Dallas native, Lila was seen smiling with her arms around her missing friend, Eloise Peck, in a heart-wrenching photo circulated by her parents and shared by Fox 4. 8 Renee Smajstrla hasn't been found since flooding swept her and friends away. Keenan Willard/X Renee Smajstrla Young Renee was in the same cabin as Eloise and Lila, and her parents told NBC DFW she was confirmed missing with them. 8 Janie Hunt's parents say they're praying their daughter will be found. CNN Weather Janie Hunt 'We are just praying,' Janie's distraught mother told CNN. 8 Kellyanne Lytal hasn't been found since flooding swept through Camp Mystic. Keenan Willard/X Kellyanne Lytal Camper Kellyanne Lytal is also among the missing, according to Fox 4. Advertisement 8 Virginia Hollis is unaccounted for after flooding swept through Camp Mystic News Nation Virginia Hollis Virginia Hollis has also been confirmed missing, according to WANE. Greta Toranzo Greta Toranzo, who attends Sinclair Elementary School in Houston, was also confirmed missing, according to the Houston Chronicle.
