Torrential Rains Devastate Kerr County and Submerge Summer Camp With Hundreds of Children
Unrelenting flash floods tore through south-central Texas early Friday, killing at least 27 people and leaving dozens unaccounted for, including 23 children attending a large summer camp. As rain poured over Kerr County, located roughly 60 miles northwest of San Antonio, the usually peaceful Guadalupe River swelled beyond its banks, unleashing a torrent that has overwhelmed emergency services and left the community reeling.
The floods hit with alarming speed, beginning around 4 a.m., catching residents and local officials off guard despite previous flash flood warnings. Water levels surged rapidly, with the Guadalupe rising to approximately 26 feet in just 45 minutes—an event local officials are calling “unprecedented.” In some locations, rainfall totals approached 15 inches, nearly half of the county’s annual average.
One of the hardest-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a well-known summer retreat hosting over 750 girls when the floodwaters surged. While 237 individuals have already been rescued, authorities say 23 girls remain unaccounted for. Sheriff Larry Leitha Jr. emphasized that this does not necessarily mean they are lost or injured, but the urgency remains high.
“We will do everything humanly possible—searching every tree and turning over every rock—to find your daughter or son,” stated Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick as he addressed the campers’ families.
Emergency Services Deploy Massive Rescue Operation
More than 500 emergency personnel, including officers, firefighters, and search-and-rescue teams, were mobilized immediately after the flooding began. The National Guard has been activated, and shelters have been established across the county to accommodate displaced residents. Governor Greg Abbott posted real-time updates and dramatic footage of air rescues to his official X account, declaring that rescue operations will continue “around the clock.”
Images released by state officials showed a woman being hoisted from a tree by a rescue officer lowered from a helicopter. “We will not stop until everyone is accounted for,” Abbott posted alongside the footage, reiterating that all available state resources are engaged in the response.
Communication Breakdowns and Lack of Warning Systems
Despite advanced warning systems issued by the National Weather Service, local leaders say the situation deteriorated too quickly to prepare adequately. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly stated plainly: “We didn’t know this flood was coming.”
Dalton Rice, administrator for the city of Kerrville, echoed those concerns. “Despite flood alerts, some things happened far faster than any model or alert system could have predicted,” he explained. He also noted that the county has no localized flood alert infrastructure and that the national service has been weakened by budget cuts, leading to staffing shortages during peak storm season.
Infrastructure and Safety Challenges
As the floods raged, much of Kerr County was left without power, mobile service, or access to clean water. Streets have been submerged, power lines downed, and communications disrupted, making rescue operations extremely difficult. Reception centers have been quickly organized in schools and churches to assist residents who fled their homes.
Rice added that multiple teams are still combing the area to locate those in need of assistance. “The priority right now is determining where people are, what their condition is, and how we can help them,” he said.
Families Await News Amid Desperation
Families of the missing campers have gathered at nearby shelters and local government buildings, hoping for updates. Emotional scenes played out throughout the day as names were called out and children reunited with loved ones. Counselors and mental health professionals have been brought in to assist families during what authorities have called “one of the darkest days in recent Texas history.”
Officials have yet to release the identities of the deceased but say that the death toll is expected to rise as storm conditions continue overnight and into the weekend.
A Region Still in Danger
With forecasts predicting more rainfall over the next 24 hours, officials are urging residents to stay indoors and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. The situation remains fluid, and authorities continue to monitor vulnerable areas along the river for new flash flooding.
Environmental experts warn that extreme weather events like this are becoming increasingly common across Texas due to climate variability y infrastructure gaps, further emphasizing the need for improved forecasting systems and emergency planning in small counties.
For updated safety information and emergency contacts, residents are advised to check the Kerr County Emergency Management site or follow updates from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
