KERR COUNTY, Texas (BN24) — The deadly flash floods that swept through the Texas Hill Country early Friday have killed at least 24 people, authorities said, as search teams continued through the night looking for more than 20 children and staff still missing from a summer camp.
The disaster struck around 4 a.m. when torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to surge as much as 22 feet in 30 minutes, inundating communities and campgrounds. Bodies were found in cars washed away upstream and in debris along the riverbanks, officials said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the flooding an “extraordinary catastrophe” and pledged that rescue operations would continue “non-stop,” even overnight.
“They will continue in the darkness of night. They will be taking place when the sun rises in the morning,” Abbott said during a Friday evening press conference.
Children Missing from Summer Camp
The disaster hit especially hard at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, where more than 750 girls ages 7 to 17 were attending summer sessions. Helicopters hoisted dozens of children to safety, while ground crews used trucks to reach others.
Between 23 and 25 people from the camp remained unaccounted for Friday night, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha Jr. said.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick emphasized that the missing had not been confirmed dead. “They could be in a tree. They could be out of communication,” he said. “We’re praying for all of those missing to be found alive.”
Earlier in the day, camp officials assured parents that anyone not accounted for had been reported directly to them.
Rescues and Widespread Damage
Texas Game Wardens said on Facebook that vehicles were finally able to access the camp late Friday and begin evacuations.
Helicopters, including those equipped with hoists, rescued survivors clinging to trees and rooftops. By Friday night, 237 people had been rescued across the flood zone, 167 by airlift, according to Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer of the Texas National Guard.
More than 400 personnel were deployed to respond to the flooding, and state and federal agencies including FEMA and the Coast Guard had been activated.
NBC affiliate WOAI broadcast video showing children airlifted to safety and cars swept away by churning brown water.
Residents described the devastation in wrenching detail.
“We lost everything. A lot of people lost everything,” one man in Kerrville told WOAI, holding up a pair of shoes a local Walmart had given him.
Another survivor said his brother’s entire house vanished, along with his brother, sister-in-law, and their two children.
Rising River and Broken Records
The Guadalupe River surged to nearly 30 feet in Comfort, breaking a decades-old record. Other areas downstream were forecast to crest early Saturday, with additional flooding possible through the weekend.
The National Weather Service said parts of Kerr County received more than 10 inches of rain in 24 hours.
“This rain event just sat here overnight into Friday morning,” NBC meteorologist Bill Karins said, explaining that hilly terrain funneled water rapidly into the river system.
State and Federal Response
President Donald Trump, speaking from Air Force One, called the flooding “terrible” and said the federal government would assist. “We’re working with the governor. It’s a terrible thing,” he told reporters.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, posted on social media, “Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic. President Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs.”
Lina Hidalgo, Harris County judge, confirmed that five of the victims were from the Houston area.
“All of Texas is impacted by this tragic event,” she wrote on X.
Flood warnings remain in effect across much of the state, with forecasters warning that flash flooding remains a threat from San Antonio to Waco for at least the next two days.
