At least 51 people, including 15 children, have died in devastating flash floods that swept across central Texas on Friday, prompting a massive search and rescue operation involving hundreds of personnel.
The tragedy has particularly impacted Kerr County, where 43 of the deaths occurred and 27 children remain missing from a Christian youth camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
The floodwaters rose rapidly, more than 26 feet in less than an hour, engulfing homes, campsites, and entire communities. As of Saturday afternoon, 850 people had been rescued, but officials stress that the mission remains a search and rescue effort, not yet a recovery operation.
“The work continues, and will continue, until everyone is found,” said Larry Leitha, the Kerr County sheriff.
Much of the rescue effort is focused on Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp where the missing children, many under the age of 12, were last seen. The camp was housing approximately 750 girls for the 4 July holiday weekend.
Images from the site reveal widespread destruction: mud-caked mattresses, teddy bears, clothing, and debris scattered through the grounds. Many of the girls were asleep when the floodwaters surged into the camp. In a message to parents, the camp assured that any parent not contacted had a child who was safe and accounted for.
Among the victims confirmed so far are sisters Blair and Brooke Harber, aged 13 and 11, respectively. A special massis scheduled for Sunday at Notre Dame Catholic Church to honour the victims and their families.
State and Federal Response
At a press conference, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced he had signed an expanded disaster declaration to increase state resources for the search.
“We will stop when the job is completed,” Abbott said. “We will be relentless in ensuring we locate every single person who’s been a victim of this event.”
President Donald Trump said the federal government is working closely with state authorities, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the US Coast Guard is being deployed to assist in the ongoing efforts.
Devastation Across Central Texas
Flash flood warnings remain in effect across central Texas. The National Weather Service has forecast 2 to 5 inches of additional rain, with up to 10 inches possible in some areas already devastated by Friday’s flooding.
Fatalities have also been reported in Travis County and Tom Green County.
The destruction has left families shattered. Lorena Guillen, whose home and restaurant were destroyed near the Guadalupe River, hosted 28 RVs on her property when the floods struck.
“They were getting washed away,” Guillen said. “They were clinging on trees to be rescued. But the rescuers couldn’t get to them.”
Rachel Reed, who drove five hours from Dallas to find her daughter, spoke emotionally about the tragedy.
“The families of those campers are living every parent’s worst nightmare. Of course, it could have been me,” she said.
Other families returned to what little was left. Jonathan and Brittany Rojas found only the foundation of their relatives’ home. The mother and infant are still missing. Their teenage son Leo survived after getting tangled in barbed wire.
Anthony, another resident, found his apartment full of mud. Almost all his belongings were destroyed—except a box of childhood photos and his baby blanket.
“I lost everything I own,” he said. “Now I’m trying to figure things out.”
As the waters recede and the search intensifies, Texas communities are left to mourn, rebuild, and hope for good news from the Guadalupe River.
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