Texas Hill Country Flooding Leaves at Least Six Dead, Summer Camp Girls Missing

At least six people are dead and approximately 20 girls attending a summer camp are missing after torrential rains triggered catastrophic flash flooding in Texas Hill Country on Friday. The deluge, which dumped months’ worth of rain in mere hours, overwhelmed the guadalupe River and surrounding areas, prompting frantic search and rescue operations involving boats and helicopters.

Devastating Impact of the Texas Hill Country Flooding

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick indicated that between six and ten bodies had been recovered as of Friday. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported 13 deaths during a press conference. Over 10 inches of rain fell overnight in central Kerr County, causing the Guadalupe River to overflow and leading to desperate pleas for details about the missing [[1]].

Did You Know? Flash floods are the number one weather-related cause of death in the United states, according to the National Weather Service.

“Some are adults, some are children,” Patrick stated during a press conference. “Again, we don’t know where those bodies came from.” Rescue teams conducted dozens of rescues, and emergency responders continued searching for those still unaccounted for.

Comments flooded a Facebook post from the Kerr County sheriff’s office, filled with photos of people in the flood zone. Loved ones posted, hoping for updates on those they hadn’t heard from. One woman desperately sought information about her daughter, who had rented a cabin in Hunt with her husband and two children, pleading for the names of those already evacuated.

Eyewitness Account: A Family’s Terrifying Ordeal

Erin Burgess, whose home sits near the river in the Bumble Bee Hills neighborhood, recounted waking up to heavy rain at 3:30 a.m. Within 20 minutes, water surged through her home.She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her son, waiting for the water to recede enough to reach a neighbor’s house.

“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while,but we found them,” she said,overcome with emotion.

Pro Tip: During a flash flood, seek higher ground instantly.If trapped in a vehicle, abandon it and move to higher ground if possible, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Lack of Warning System and Community Response

A flood watch issued Thursday afternoon estimated isolated rainfall amounts up to 7 inches. This shifted to a flood warning for at least 30,000 people overnight. Judge Rob Kelly, the chief elected official in Kerr County, acknowledged the absence of a warning system, stating, “We didn’t know this flood was coming,” despite reporters pointing to existing warnings and questioning the lack of precautions.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the state is providing resources to affected Hill Country communities, including Kerrville, Ingram, and Hunt. The Texas Hill country,known for its scenic beauty and popularity as a summer getaway,is particularly susceptible to flash flooding.

Dozens of people turned to Facebook, seeking information about children, nieces, nephews attending local summer camps, or family members camping over the holiday weekend. the Ingram Fire Department shared a statement from Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls, reporting “catastrophic level floods.” Parents with unaccounted-for daughters were contacted directly. Camp Waldemar, another camp on the river east of Hunt, posted on Instagram that “we are all safe and sound.”

River Gauge Failure and Meteorological Insights

The Guadalupe River gauge in Hunt recorded a 22-foot rise in approximately two hours, according to Bob Fogarty, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. The gauge failed after recording a level of 29½ feet.

“This is the kind of thing that will catch you unaware,” Fogarty explained. “The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you.”

Impact Beyond Texas: severe Weather in New Jersey

Simultaneously occurring,severe thunderstorms in central New Jersey resulted in at least three fatalities,including two men in Plainfield who died when a tree fell on their vehicle. The city canceled its Fourth of July parade, concert, and fireworks show due to the “devastating” storms and widespread damage, according to Mayor Adrian O. Mapp.

Continuing power outages and downed trees were reported throughout southern New England, with some communities experiencing large amounts of hail. There were reports of cars skidding off the road in northeastern Connecticut.

Flood Metrics