Flash floods in Central Texas have triggered a tragedy that feels straight out of a nightmare: at least 27 young girls from Camp Mystic remain missing after a sudden surge of water from the Guadalupe River swept through cabins early on July 4. Rescue teams report that while dozens of people were saved, many paths are now underwater, and recovery efforts are moving forward with more tension than hope.
Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian girls’ camp in Kerr County, was all but obliterated within minutes. Structures were swallowed by the torrent, and evidence of the chaos remains amid fallen trees, disrupted cabins, and floating debris. Local 13-year-old survivor Elinor Lester described the scene as “really scary,” recalling helicopters descending to evacuate campers and staff. Meanwhile, divers and sonar equipment are being deployed—searching for bodies caught in the lake’s low-oxygen depths, where remains can persist undisturbed for weeks.
The stakes keep rising. Officials say 82 lives have been lost across Central Texas so far, with 68 confirmed dead in Kerr County alone—including 28 children. Of those, five young sisters from Austin are among the confirmed deceased, while 27 girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic are still unaccounted for. Families like the McCowns have been scouring the wreckage in vain hope of their loved ones being found alive. Panicked social media posts plead for sightings as anxiety consumes loved ones back home.
Some sobering details are emerging: Linnie McCown, an 8-year-old camper, was last seen in the “Bubble Inn” cabin, which was immediately overrun by floodwaters. A fellow searcher stumbled upon her body, confirming her death, crushing her father’s hopes in a single moment . Authorities warn that recovery from submerged cabins won’t be quick—and the presence of debris-choked, low-oxygen depths around Camp Mystic could mean that some bodies are still entangled in wreckage or buried in soft mud.
Why did this happen so fast—and with so little warning? The Guadalupe River spiked a horrifying 26 feet in just 45 minutes, rising from around 10 feet above normal to nearly 37 feet by 5 a.m.. Although numerous flash flood warnings were issued, locals contend that evacuation systems failed—the sirens did not sound, and cabins were still occupied when the water hit . This failure has prompted pressure for stronger warning systems in Kerr County moving forward.
Yet amidst the chaos there have been harrowing rescues. Over 850 people were pulled to safety via helicopters, boats, and daring treetop evacuations. Dozens of survivors cling to campsites transformed into graveyards, and families remain on high alert as the river threatens another surge. Governor Greg Abbott has issued a statewide day of prayer and reiterated that search efforts will continue “until every child is found”.
This is no longer merely a disaster—it’s a cautionary tale of nature’s unpredictability, fragile infrastructures, and communities forever altered. As darkness falls over Kerr County, hundreds of rescuers strain against swiftly rising waters, determined to bring each missing girl home.
