Camp Mystic: At least 13 people have died and many more are unaccounted for after flash floods caused by heavy rain in the Texas Hill Country, including over 20 girls from a summer camp. The Associated Press data released July 4, 2025 is the source for this story.
Early July 4, the floods hit central Kerr County, dumping 10 inches of rain—enough to last months—in a few hours. The Guadalupe River rose significantly in the area. The Hunt, Texas, river gauge recorded a 22 foot rise in about 2 hours before it topped out at 29.5 feet. According to Bob Fogarty, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Austin, the water moved so fast people were caught off guard. He called it the kind of flood that happens before you can even realize its severity.
It was bad. The river flooded homes, camps and whole towns. Hunt, Texas’ Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls, was one of the hardest hit. 23 girls are still unaccounted for out of about 750 campers. Officials called the flood that hit the camp “catastrophic.” While the camp said their girls were safe, the parents of the missing children were contacted directly. All campers at nearby Camp Waldemar were reported safe.
The rescue is in full swing. At least 400 people are on the ground, according to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and 14 helicopters, 12 drones and 9 rescue teams are searching for survivors. People were being pulled from trees where they were clinging to get out of the way of the flood. Texas Game Wardens arrived at Camp Mystic with vehicles to evacuate campers but by Friday night there was no word on the missing girls.
Over 100 people gathered at a reunification center at an elementary school in Ingram waiting to see their loved ones get off the buses. One little girl was seen crying in her mom’s arms in her socks and a Camp Mystic t-shirt standing in a puddle.
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It’s costly to humanity. At least 13 dead, maybe more. Erin Burgess of Ingram shared a harrowing tale. At 3:30 a.m. she was woken up by thunder and rain. Water was in her house across from the Guadalupe River in less than 20 minutes. She and her 19 year old son waited for an hour holding onto a tree while the flood passed. Her dog and boyfriend were swept away but they were eventually rescued. Her son’s height (over 6 feet) she said saved her life.
Barry Adelman, 54, another local, shared his terrifying experience. His family (including his 94 year old grandmother and 9 year old grandson) was forced to take refuge in their attic by the floodwaters. Water started leaking through the attic floor before it receded. Adelman admitted he was scared on the inside even though he was trying to calm his grandson.
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The area is known as “flash flood alley” and is prone to rapid and severe flooding. Overnight the flood warning was issued for at least 30,000 people. But the rain was more intense than predicted and caught many off guard. Fogarty pointed out it’s harder to warn people because the storm hit in the early morning hours. Sheriff Larry Leitha of Kerr County said there is no official alert system. “No one knew this kind of flood was coming” he said when asked why more wasn’t done to keep people safe.
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