Islamabad (Monitoring Desk) Rescue teams combed through debris-strewn riverbanks, overturned trees, and rocky terrain on Saturday, desperately searching for more than two dozen missing children from Camp Mystic and other victims after devastating flash floods swept through Texas Hill Country. At least 37 people, including 14 children, have died in the disaster.
The catastrophe struck before dawn on Friday when the Guadalupe River surged an astonishing 26 feet in just 45 minutes, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and a girls’ camp in Kerr County. As of Saturday, officials said they still could not confirm the total number of missing beyond the 27 children from Camp Mystic.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported that the bodies of 32 victims had been recovered in the Hill Country, while additional deaths were recorded in Travis and Burnet counties. Among the victims were an 8-year-old girl from Alabama attending the camp and a local camp director.
The ferocious storm dumped massive rainfall across central Texas, leading to flash flood emergencies. Although the National Weather Service and private forecasters issued warnings hours ahead, questions are mounting over whether enough was done to evacuate camps and communities in this flood-prone region.
Camp Mystic was left in ruins. Thirteen-year-old camper Elinor Lester described how rescuers tied a rope across a bridge so girls could wade through rising waters to safety. Helicopters later landed to evacuate stranded campers. By Saturday, the site was eerily quiet, with a pickup truck flipped on its side and buildings gutted.
Across the region, helicopters, boats, and drones joined the massive search. About 850 people have been rescued so far. Yet families still crowded reunification centers, clinging to hope. “We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones,” said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School District.
Survivors recounted terrifying ordeals. Erin Burgess described how she and her teenage son clung to a tree for an hour after floodwaters engulfed their home, while her boyfriend and dog drifted away before later being found. Barry Adelman said water forced his family, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson, into the attic. “I had to tell my grandson everything would be OK while I was scared to death,” he admitted.
Local leaders acknowledged shortcomings. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said bluntly, “We do not have a warning system,” while others stressed that the scale of the flooding was unforeseen.
Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pledged every possible state resource, as did Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who visited the area. With more rain forecast, officials warned the danger could persist into Sunday.
The Hill Country’s terrain, often called “flash flood alley,” funnels rain into deadly torrents. Austin Dickson, of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, urged support for relief efforts. “When it rains here, water doesn’t soak in — it races down,” he said.
As Texas reels from one of its deadliest floods in years, the heartbreaking search continues.
