Image by Hans from Pixabay
KERRVILLE, Texas — Torrential rains unleashed catastrophic flash floods across Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, killing at least 91 people statewide, with more than 75 fatalities in Kerr County alone, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent Texas history.
Among the hardest-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls located six miles south of Hunt, Texas, along the Guadalupe River.
According to officials, the Guadalupe River rose more than 26 feet in just 45 minutes, triggered by days of intense rainfall.
The sudden surge produced a violent wall of water that swept through riverside properties, including Camp Mystic.
Shocking video shared on social media shows the force of the flood obliterating cabins, uprooting trees, and carrying away vehicles and entire structures, including one clip appearing to show a cabin with people still inside as it was swept away.
Camp Mystic confirmed that 27 campers and counselors were killed, including longtime camp director Dick Eastland and counselor Chloe Childress.
As of Monday, ten girls and one counselor remain missing, as multiple agencies continue searching using helicopters, drones, dive teams, and search dogs.
The Camp Mystic tragedy is part of a broader catastrophe that unfolded across the Texas Hill Country between July 4 and 7.
The region was battered by more than 20 inches of rain in some areas, and the downpour caused multiple rivers, including the Guadalupe, to overflow at unprecedented levels.
Across the region, rescue crews conducted more than 850 high-water missions, saving hundreds of people stranded in rising floodwaters.
One U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Scott Ruskan, was credited with rescuing 165 people over three days, many of them from rooftops, trees, and submerged vehicles.
For people wishing to donate, Kerr County officials and Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. are encouraging the public to contribute to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.
The fund is established by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and is dedicated to supporting both emergency response and long-term recovery efforts.
Contributions will benefit nonprofit groups, first responders, and local government agencies assisting impacted areas, including Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort.
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