HUNT, TEXAS — A sweeping rescue operation is ongoing after a violent flash flood struck Camp Mystic, a revered Christian summer camp for girls located along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas.
The flood hit in the early hours of Friday, triggered by intense storms that sent the river surging over 22 feet in just 30 minutes, inundating the campgrounds without warning. Officials have declared the situation a “mass casualty event.”
The rapidly rising waters flattened buildings, submerged vehicles, and cut off access routes, trapping hundreds within the camp. Around 750 girls, ages 7 to 17, were on site at the time. As of Friday afternoon, 23 campers remain missing, though many have been safely evacuated.
Among the unaccounted are Lila Bonner and Eloise Peck, last seen in the “Bubble Inn” cabin. Other names shared by family members include Hadley Hanna, Kellyanne Lytal, Lainey Landry, Janie Hunt, Renee Smajstrla, Cile Steward, Virginia Hollis, Margaret Sheedy, Molly Dewitt, Anna Margaret Bellows, Blakely McCrory, Mary Grace Baker, and Linnie McCown.
Over 500 first responders and 18 helicopters have been deployed to search the devastated area. Children have been rescued from trees and flood-stranded vehicles, but downed infrastructure, fast-moving water, and scattered debris continue to make access and communication difficult.
“This is a mass casualty event,” confirmed Freeman Martin, head of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported 13 confirmed fatalities, cautioning that the number may climb as more isolated sections of the camp are reached.
The storm left Camp Mystic without electricity, water, or internet, and the camp’s main road was destroyed. Families have struggled to receive updates, relying heavily on social media to share news. The camp assured families in a statement: “If your daughter is not accounted for, you have been notified.”
Still, many families are gripped with uncertainty. The Hanna family from Dallas confirmed their daughter Hadley has not been found. The Lytals made an emotional public plea: “Please, if anyone knows where Kellyanne is, we’re begging for information. We just want her safe.”
Federal help has been activated. President Donald Trump has pledged full national support, dispatching FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard to join the rescue teams on the ground.
Senator Ted Cruz also issued a public message: “Prayers are with the girls at Camp Mystic. We are doing everything we can to support the rescue efforts.”
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly acknowledged the urgency: “Some campers have been located, but many remain missing. Every second matters, and we’re not giving up.”
With additional rain in the forecast and flood alerts still in effect across the Texas Hill Country, officials continue to urge the public to steer clear of the area and allow emergency teams to operate without interference.
As Texas communities unite in hope and support, the priority remains clear: to bring every missing child home. Anyone with helpful information should immediately contact Kerr County Emergency Management.
