Texas (BN24) – At least 104 people have now been confirmed as dead, with dozens more remaining missing after catastrophic flash floods tore through central Texas, submerging entire communities and triggering desperate rescue operations along the Guadalupe River. The disaster has left families grieving and officials scrambling to account for those still unaccounted for, including campers and counselors from a beloved summer retreat.
Most of the fatalities were reported in Kerr County, where the river, swollen by torrential rains, surged to the height of a two-story building early Friday. Kerr County authorities confirmed 84 deaths, with at least 27 of the victims from Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp in Hunt. Officials said 10 campers and a counselor remain missing, marking the first definitive count after days of uncertainty.
The camp, which had nearly 750 children on-site when the floods struck, said it was working closely with authorities and described the losses as “unimaginable.” “Our hearts are broken alongside our families,” camp leaders said in a statement. “We are praying for them constantly.”
President Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Kerr County after Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested federal support. Abbott visited the devastated area on Saturday, describing Camp Mystic as “horrendously ravaged” and pledging that search efforts would not stop until every missing person is found.
Emergency responders have conducted more than 160 air rescues since the flooding began, saving hundreds stranded by rising water. The U.S. Coast Guard alone rescued 223 people, including 165 in a single mission led by Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, whom Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called “an American hero.”
Across Texas, at least 20 additional deaths were confirmed in five counties beyond Kerr. In Burnet County, four people died and two remain missing, including a teenage girl and the county fire chief. Travis County, home to Austin, confirmed seven deaths, while Kendall County reported six. Williamson County officials said two people died, and in Tom Green County, a woman drowned when her car was engulfed by floodwaters.
Authorities said the disaster developed with astonishing speed. Meteorologists traced the flooding to a collision of local thunderstorms and remnants of Tropical Storm Barry. In the Guadalupe River’s headwaters, water levels surged more than 20 feet in minutes. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice described a night of chaos as the river overwhelmed its banks: “When we got the report, it was about 7 feet or so on the south fork, and within minutes it was up to 29 feet.”
The National Weather Service had forecast up to 8 inches of rain. Actual totals were much higher, triggering flash flood emergencies across several counties. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, who lost property in the flood, said authorities were caught off guard. “Nobody saw this coming,” he said.
The disaster turned deadly in the pre-dawn darkness, sweeping away vehicles, cabins and tents. Witnesses described headlights still burning as cars floated downstream. At Camp Mystic, many cabins were quickly submerged. Some children climbed to rafters to avoid the torrent.
Thirteen-year-old camper Elinor Lester said her cabin was evacuated by helicopter. “The camp was completely destroyed,” she said. “It was really scary.”
Among those confirmed dead are 8-year-old Linnie McCown of Austin and 18-year-old counselor Chloe Childress. Two girls from Dallas, 8-year-old Eloise Peck and 9-year-old Lila Bonner, also perished. Another camper, 8-year-old Hadley Hanna, remains missing.
In a poignant rescue, an 8-year-old girl was swept six miles downriver before being found alive.
Neighboring camps, including Camp La Junta and Camp Waldemar, reported all their campers and staff were safe.
Rescue teams from Florida joined Texas agencies in round-the-clock operations that continued into Monday. Officials urged anyone with information about missing people to contact authorities immediately.
Pope Leo expressed condolences during Sunday Mass at the Vatican, offering prayers for the families devastated by the flood. President Trump said he plans to visit Texas soon and called the disaster “a terrible thing,” adding that federal and state officials were coordinating to assist survivors.
Governor Abbott warned that recovery would take months or longer. “We will stop at nothing to ensure every last person is accounted for,” he said.
