In a dramatic development, one of the missing camp girls has been located 12 miles downriver in Texas, as relentless rainfall and rising waters have turned the Guadalupe River into a force to be reckoned with.
In Hunt, Texas, where the Guadalupe River splits, a staggering seven inches of rain have fallen since Thursday afternoon—the highest rainfall total the area has seen since the early 1990s. This deluge led to a rapid rise in river levels, cresting at over 29 feet before sunrise—marking the second-highest crest in recorded history. The intensity of the rainfall caught both residents and officials off guard.
As the water levels surged, the National Weather Service issued an early flood watch advisory for much of central Texas, urging local communities to prepare for the worst. Soon after, a series of urgent alerts followed, signaling an escalation of the crisis.
Emergency response teams scrambled into action, deploying 14 helicopters and ground crews to search for stranded individuals. However, navigating flooded roads proved difficult, and officials warned that the death toll was expected to rise.
“This is an incredibly tragic event. We’re anticipating a significant loss of life,” said Freeman F. Martin, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon.
In the midst of the chaos, Camp Mystic—a beloved Christian summer camp for girls situated on the Guadalupe River—has been in close contact with the families of the campers who are still unaccounted for. The camp, which has been a Texas institution for nearly a century, boasts facilities including a historic recreation hall built in the 1920s using local cypress trees.
For many, Friday’s catastrophic flooding is eerily reminiscent of the deadly flash floods that struck the Guadalupe River on July 17, 1987. The tragic events of that day are seared into the memories of those who survived, as the river’s waters rose with ferocious speed.
To all the survivors and residents affected, our hearts are with you, Texas.