At Least 80 Dead as Deadly Flash Floods Devastate Texas; Camp Mystic Grieves the Loss of 27 Campers and Staff
Texas Hill Country — What was meant to be a summer of sisterhood and joy turned into a scene of unimaginable devastation as deadly flash floods ripped through Texas Hill Country over the Fourth of July weekend. At least 80 people have been confirmed dead, including nearly 30 children, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue efforts continue. Among the hardest-hit locations is Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp in Kerr County, which is grieving the loss of 27 campers and staff.
The storm, which hit like a sledgehammer, overwhelmed the region in a matter of hours. Rising floodwaters swallowed cabins, snapped trees, and washed entire structures downstream.
“The water came so fast — we had no time to prepare,” said one survivor, who was rescued from a treetop after clinging to a rope for hours. Others were pulled from attics and flooded buildings by first responders who braved the treacherous waters to reach them.
Camp Mystic, known across Texas as a place of joy and connection for young girls, has become a focal point of grief as the camp’s beloved community mourns the loss of its own. The camp, located along the Guadalupe River, had been home to more than 100 campers and staff members when the flood struck. In a statement, Camp Mystic confirmed the heartbreaking loss of 27 of its “Mystic Girls” — campers and counselors who were caught in the flood as they tried to escape the rising waters.
“Camp Mystic was meant to be a place of laughter, friendship, and growth — but now it stands as a place of great loss,” the statement said. “Our hearts are with the families of those we’ve lost, and we are working alongside rescue teams to find those still unaccounted for.”
As of Tuesday, at least 120 people statewide have been confirmed dead, with 160 more still missing. The search for survivors and the recovery of those lost continues as crews comb through devastated areas, including nearby communities like Kerrville, Ingram, and Hunt, where homes and businesses were completely destroyed.
Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to continue supporting search and rescue efforts, offering full resources to help the communities affected. “We will not rest until everyone is accounted for,” Abbott said in a statement. “Texas is a resilient state, and we will rebuild from this tragedy, but we will never forget the lives lost in this flood.”As the community recovers, the loss of Camp Mystic’s cherished campers and counselors will be felt deeply across the state and beyond.