HUNT, Texas | ridgecrestpact.org – July 5, 2025 — A devastating flood swept through Texas Hill Country overnight Thursday, killing at least 24 people and leaving dozens missing, including 23 campers from Camp Mystic, a riverside Christian girls’ summer camp in Hunt, Texas.
Torrential rain pushed the Guadalupe River to historic levels, unleashing a deadly surge that tore through cabins and cut off access to roads.
“This is an on-your-knees kind of praying situation,” said Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, pleading for public support during Friday’s press conference.
Panic and Desperation Among Families
Frantic parents flooded social media with pleas for help and shared photos of their daughters, hoping for updates from the ravaged campgrounds. Camp Mystic, which houses hundreds of girls ages 8 to 17, confirmed in an email to parents that if they had not been contacted directly, their child was safe — but anxiety is mounting for the families still waiting.
At a reunification center in Ingram, dozens of parents stood silently as buses unloaded survivors. Some sobbed in relief. Others waited in terror.
Helicopter Rescues and Heartbreaking Scenes
Texas Game Wardens and emergency crews used helicopters and ropes to evacuate stranded campers. Elinor Lester, 13, recounted how she and others on Senior Hill were evacuated after watching the river rise rapidly overnight.
“The camp was completely destroyed,” she said. “Everyone I know personally is accounted for, but there are people missing that I know of — and we don’t know where they are.”
Her mother, Elizabeth Lester, shared that her son, who was attending Camp La Junta nearby, also survived thanks to a quick-thinking counselor who evacuated boys through a cabin window into rising waters.
‘Flash Flood Alley’ Lives Up to Its Name
Camp Mystic, founded in 1926, is nestled in what experts call “flash flood alley” — a steep region where water rushes downhill too fast to soak into the rocky soil.
“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. “It rushes down the hill.”
The National Weather Service had forecast 3–6 inches of rain — but nearly a foot fell within hours, causing the Guadalupe River to surge to 26 feet in under 45 minutes, submerging the flood gauge completely.
Camp’s Legacy Shaken by Tragedy
Chloe Crane, a teacher and former Camp Mystic counselor, said she cried when she heard the news.
“Mystic is such a special place… the cabins literally got washed away,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking to think of all those little girls, scared and separated.”
Crane, like many others, recalled memories of canoe races, crafts, and close-knit traditions — now tainted by tragedy.
Read Also: Rescue Efforts Continue as 24 Die in Texas Flooding, 20 Still Missing
Search Continues, Hope Fades
As of Friday night, 237 people had been rescued, but dozens remain missing across the region. Campers from Camp Waldemar and Camp La Junta were reported safe, but authorities are focusing rescue efforts around Camp Mystic and other riverside areas.
Families say they are clinging to hope.
“My kids are safe, but knowing others are still missing is just eating me alive,” said Elizabeth Lester.
How You Can Help
- Donate to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country communityfoundation.net
- Share photos of missing loved ones through official emergency channels
- Avoid the disaster area to give rescue teams space to work
Join the Conversation
Do you think enough is being done to keep summer camps safe from natural disasters in flood-prone areas? Share your thoughts and get updates on this developing story at ridgecrestpact.org.
