In a heartbreaking incident, more than two dozen girls from a Christian summer camp in Texas are missing following a catastrophic flood that has already taken at least 13 lives. The girls were part of Camp Mystic, situated near the Guadalupe River in Hunt, a suburb of San Antonio in Kerr County. The news was shared by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in a press briefing on Friday.
Patrick stressed that the girls’ missing status does not necessarily imply they are lost. They could be stranded in trees or beyond communication reach. The hope remains that all those missing will be found alive. The flood has already resulted in 13 confirmed fatalities in Kerr County, with several more individuals still unaccounted for.
The camp was evacuated overnight due to the torrential rainfall, which measured up to 10 inches. However, some campers were left behind. The flood reportedly led to some cabins and roads being washed away. While some of the children have been located and are stranded, approximately 23 of the 750 campers at Mystic are still missing.
Rescue operations are underway, with nearly 500 rescue workers and 18 helicopters scouring the area for survivors. The state has also deployed additional resources, including 40 helicopters, 12 drones, and nine dive and rescue teams. Patrick reassured the public that every effort is being made to locate the missing children.
Camp staff informed families of the situation via email, noting that the camp had lost power, water, and Wi-Fi. The email assured parents that if they had not been personally contacted, their child was safe. The camp is struggling to get more help due to the highway being washed away.
Camp Mystic is a Christian summer camp for girls aged between 7 and 17. Parents have been advised not to rush to the camp due to the hazardous conditions. Instead, buses will transport the rescued girls to reunite with their families as soon as they are found.
Children at other nearby camps have been accounted for. Camp La Junta, an all-boys camp also at the lake when the flood started, confirmed that all their campers were safe. However, Patrick did concede that some of the missing campers could be among the bodies found during the flood searches.
Gov. Greg Abbott described the situation as “devastating flooding”. The Guadalupe River near Hunt reached its second-highest level on record amid the flash flooding emergency. More rainfall is expected, which will contribute to continued flooding. An evacuation order has been issued for Kerr County, with residents ordered to move to higher ground.
The Texas National Guard was activated on Thursday night and is conducting helicopter searches throughout Hunt and Kerrville. The US Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are also assisting. President Trump has been notified and the White House has assured Texas that they will receive whatever help they need.