What began as a regular holiday weekend turned into a nightmare for residents and campers in central Texas. On Thursday night, July 3, torrential rains began to fall across the Guadalupe River region in Kerr County. By early Friday morning, what should have been a peaceful riverside experience was shattered by the sudden and violent rise of the Guadalupe River.
Within just 45 minutes, the water surged from three feet to nearly 30 feet near Comfort, Texas. That morning, entire communities, summer camps, and families found themselves trapped or swept away by floodwaters that gave little warning.
The region, known for its natural beauty and dotted with youth camps like Camp Mystic and Camp La Junta, has a long history of flash floods. Experts had already classified it as one of the most dangerous areas in the United States for this type of disaster due to its terrain and the river’s limestone bed, which prevents proper water absorption. Yet despite this history, there was no comprehensive flood warning system in place. The flood followed a severe drought, creating conditions that worsened the intensity and speed of the disaster.
Number of Casualties
As of Sunday evening, the death toll from the flood had risen to over 80, including at least 28 children. In Kerr County alone, 68 people were confirmed dead. Authorities have stated that more than 40 individuals remain missing, many of them campers and staff at Camp Mystic. This includes young girls and counselors who were spending their summer at the riverside camp when the waters overwhelmed the area. Search efforts are still ongoing, with more bodies being recovered daily.
Rescue teams are working around the clock to find the missing. Camp Mystic, in particular, remains at the heart of this tragedy, with children still unaccounted for days after the flooding began.
Reactions from the Survivors
For many who survived, the escape was nothing short of miraculous. People clung to trees, floated on mattresses, and climbed into attics as the water filled their homes and camps. Nine-year-old campers were forced to wade through darkness and fast-moving waters in a desperate bid to survive. Some floated out of windows. Others found themselves trapped on rooftops, praying for help.
Ricky Gonzalez and his friends, staying in a rented Airbnb, inflated floaties and air mattresses and prepared to escape through the attic as the water climbed to the second story. Gonzalez, who couldn’t swim, made a last FaceTime call to his sister, fearing it could be his final goodbye.
At Camp La Junta, children woke up to screaming and lightning, not understanding what was happening as the cabins filled with water. “We didn’t know what was going on around us,” said one camper. “It was dark and we couldn’t see past the trees. All we knew was we had to keep things from getting wet.”
Some survivors had narrow escapes. Maria and Felipe Tapia’s house filled with water in just 10 minutes. They swam out and sought higher ground with a neighbor. “We got out just in time,” Felipe said. “I felt like I was swimming under a river.”
In a separate incident, a woman clung to a tree for over 30 minutes before she was rescued by a swift water team. Carl Jeter, a local resident, heard her screams and refused to leave her alone. “It’s a true miracle,” he said. “That’s not something you survive.”
What the American Government Is Doing About It
In response to the devastation, President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in Kerr County. This federal action unlocks funding through FEMA for emergency shelter, home repairs, and recovery efforts. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the state disaster declaration to cover surrounding counties and deployed more than 500 emergency personnel to aid in search and rescue missions.
Resources include 14 helicopters, 12 drones, over 150 vehicles, 37 rescue boats, and multiple search teams. As of now, over 850 people have been rescued across the flood zones. The Texas Game Wardens alone airlifted more than 300 people from trees and rooftops.
Despite these efforts, communication remains a challenge. Power outages and limited cell service have slowed coordination and made it harder for families to locate loved ones.
Governor Abbott also declared a statewide day of prayer for the victims and families affected by the disaster. As search teams continue to comb through wreckage, Texas and the nation remain united in grief and determination to find every missing person.
This catastrophic flooding has torn through the heart of Texas, leaving destruction, sorrow, and unanswered questions in its wake. For survivors, the memories will last a lifetime. For many families, the wait continues as they cling to hope that their loved ones will be found. And for all of Texas, the call for stronger preparedness, better warning systems, and faster emergency response grows louder.
