Texas Reels After Historic Flooding Kills Over 100
Summer camp tragedy among the state’s worst natural disasters.
Central Texas is grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic flash floods that have claimed over 100 lives. A Christian summer camp became the site of immense loss, marking one of the worst natural disasters in state history.
Devastation in Kerr County
Kerr County bore the worst of the tragedy. At Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp situated on the Guadalupe River’s south fork, at least 27 children and counselors perished when a massive surge of water swept through the grounds, according to officials. One witness described it as “a pitch-black wall of death.”
Around 750 young campers were there celebrating the Fourth of July holiday.
Almost 50 additional fatalities were reported in other parts of the county, and authorities expect this number to increase as recovery efforts continue.
Homes, businesses, and vehicles suffered near-unprecedented destruction from the intense rainfall and flooding. AccuWeather estimates the total damage and economic losses will range between $18 billion and $22 billion.
“Everyone in the community is hurting,”
stated Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice during a press conference Sunday. “We are seeing bodies recovered all over, up and down.”
Warnings and Rapid River Rise
On Thursday, at 1:18 p.m. local time, the National Weather Service’s Austin-San Antonio office issued a bulletin. It cautioned about “pockets of heavy rain are expected and may result in flooding of low-lying areas, rivers/creeks, and low water crossings.”
Isolated flash flooding possible this afternoon and evening. Here are the key messages. #txwx #FlashFlood ⛈️⚠️ pic.twitter.com/J5W4HQVzVw
— NWS San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) July 4, 2025
The message was reinforced via a post to X (formerly Twitter) shortly after.
Early Friday morning, the NWS warned of “significant impacts”
from the heavy rainfall north of San Antonio, causing rivers to swell rapidly. At 5:16 a.m., the Kerrville Police Department issued a warning of a “life-threatening event,”
urging Guadalupe River residents to seek higher ground immediately. Some residents claimed the warnings came too late or were not received.
According to meteorologists, areas of central Texas experienced several months’ worth of rain within hours. Hunt, Texas, recorded 6.5 inches of rain in 180 minutes.
Some areas received up to 15 inches of rain on Friday, while reports of rainfall up to 8 inches were widespread. The Guadalupe River surged by 26 feet in 45 minutes and 33 feet in two hours, exceeding the 31.5-foot level from a July 1987 flood. That earlier flood, less than 20 miles from Kerrville, resulted in the deaths of 10 teenagers from a Christian summer camp when their bus stalled in floodwater.
Search and rescue teams used drones, boats, and helicopters to assist in the operations. Authorities reported that approximately 850 people were rescued with over 400 first responders involved. By day’s end, responder numbers grew to over 1,000.
The Texas National Guard deployed a MQ-9 Reaper and personnel from FEMA joined the search for survivors.
Rice criticized the use of unauthorized drones. He said that they interfered with rescue efforts already complicated by difficult terrain and additional heavy rainfall.
Authorities confirmed the event was central Texas’s worst flooding in decades by Sunday morning. They had spent a full day recovering bodies and searching for the missing.
Governor Greg Abbott affirmed that crews would treat those unaccounted for as still alive. He also called for a statewide day of prayer for Sunday.
“All we know is that prayer does work,”
he said. He then signed a request for a federal emergency declaration, which President Donald Trump approved on Sunday.
Camp Mystic Tragedy
Camp Mystic posted on its website that it had lost at least 27 campers and counselors. The popular private Christian summer camp is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly,”
the post read.
The camp’s longtime owner and director, Richard “Dick” Eastland, was among those who died.
Dormitories on the lower ground of the camp were completely flooded. Photos show metal beds tossed around, with pink and purple sleeping bags, lunchboxes, and mud-covered luggage scattered. About 750 girls were attending the camp, which offers more than 30 activities during the summer.
As of Monday night, ten campers and one counselor remained missing. A vigil was held in Dallas at the George W. Bush Presidential Center for families with ties to Camp Mystic.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
The National Weather Service predicts drier weather and falling river levels. This offers a chance for clean-up and recovery operations to progress more quickly.
Some residents returned to their damaged properties to salvage possessions, while others sought refuge at a Red Cross center in Kerrville.
Kathy Perkins reported that her trailer home was damaged; some neighbors’ homes were swept away.
The White House said that President Trump plans to visit Texas on Friday. He intends to assess the damage and commit more federal aid to the affected areas.
Hunt resident Lesa Baird, 65, survived the flood by riding it out in a tree and then walking to her local Baptist church for help. “There’s no home to go to. It’s done,”
she said.
In the face of such widespread devastation, the Texas Division of Emergency Management urges people to register for assistance by calling 2-1-1, providing a centralized point of contact for resources during this critical recovery period (TDEM 2024).
