KERRVILLE, Texas — What began as a carefree summer retreat along the Guadalupe River turned into a harrowing flood rescue mission at Camp Mystic, a prestigious all-girls Christian camp nestled in the Hill Country. Torrential rains lashed Central Texas Friday, transforming tranquil riverbanks into roiling currents that swept through parts of Kerr County, forcing evacuations, trapping campers, and intensifying scrutiny of Texas’s emergency preparedness.
Parents in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio watched in terror as texts from daughters at Camp Mystic turned frantic: “We’re climbing trees,” “There’s water everywhere,” “We’re waiting for rescue.” In just under an hour, the Guadalupe River surged nearly 10 feet, according to the National Weather Service, inundating dozens of riverside camps and homes from Hunt to Kerrville, including Camp Mystic, Camp La Junta, and Heart O’ the Hills.
More than 150 children and staff were trapped inside Camp Mystic when the floodwaters struck overnight. Helicopter rescues began at dawn.
Guadalupe River becomes a threat overnight
By the time first responders arrived at dawn, water had flooded cabins and athletic fields at Camp Mystic, leaving kayaks, backpacks, and debris scattered across the site. “We have never seen the river move this fast,” said Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Dub Thomas, adding that the Guadalupe River was clocked at over 60,000 cubic feet per second near Hunt, a volume comparable to a small tsunami.
As reported by CNN, the floodwaters overtook roadways and swept away multiple vehicles, with authorities urging residents to stay off flooded routes. At least two water rescues occurred downstream near Ingram, according to Kerrville Fire Chief Eric Maloney.
Camp Mystic staff issued an emergency alert at 4:10 a.m., and dozens of parents received fragmented updates throughout the morning. NBC News confirmed in their reporting that Camp Mystic had been inundated with water after heavy rainfall upstream caused the river to breach its banks suddenly.
Dramatic rescues amid power outages and broken bridges
The flooding stranded not only campers but also first responders. With bridges collapsed and roadways submerged in Kerrville and Hunt, Texas Department of Public Safety helicopters airlifted girls from the tree canopies and rooftops. Several boats flipped during rescue attempts, according to local reports.
“I couldn’t sleep knowing my daughters were out there in that,” said Jessica Albright, whose 13-year-old twins were rescued just after sunrise. “They were soaked, shivering, but alive. That’s all I care about,” according to The New York Times noting that both girls were among the last to be rescued from the riverside cabins.
Why was Governor Greg Abbott absent?
The state response drew immediate questions after it was revealed that Governor Greg Abbott had temporarily handed power to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick earlier in the week, without a clear explanation to the public. As Texans struggled in rising floodwaters, social media erupted with questions: “Where is Greg Abbott?” “Why is Dan Patrick the acting governor of Texas today?”
The governor’s office has yet to comment on the delegation of powers. Meanwhile, Dan Patrick authorized the deployment of National Guard units to Kerrville and nearby areas.
Warnings were issued, but were they ignored?
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Kerr County at 1:18 p.m. on July 3, elevated to a warning by 1:14 a.m. on July 4, citing “life-threatening” conditions. Despite this, several summer camps remained open, with cabins still occupied along the riverbank.
Residents later described what came next: “It wasn’t just rain, it was a wall of water,” one official recalled, echoing the harrowing reports of a pitch-black flood wave sweeping through.
The Guadalupe River flooding today overwhelmed sensors and emergency alerts, leaving parts of Kerrville and Hunt without access or communication.
USGS gauges show the Guadalupe River surged from near-flood to catastrophic levels, climbing 21 feet in Kerrville, nearly 30 feet in Comfort, and about 22 feet in Hunt before gauges failed. The river also breached its banks in Center Point and Comfort, inundating farmland and homes.
Mystic’s legacy shaken, but not broken
Founded in 1926 by E. J. “Doc” Stewart, Camp Mystic is one of Texas’s most storied all-girls Christian summer camps, nestled along a scenic stretch of the Guadalupe River near Hunt. Known for its traditions rooted in faith, personal growth, and community, the camp has long drawn families from across the state, including children of prominent Texas political figures. The Camp Mystic Texas flooding has become a flashpoint in the state’s broader conversation about flood preparedness and climate risk.
“This will forever be a chapter in Camp Mystic’s history,” said a counselor who declined to be named. “But we stayed calm, we prayed, and we kept our girls safe.”
As of Saturday morning, all campers at Camp Mystic had been accounted for, according to local authorities. There were no fatalities reported among the children, though several were treated for mild hypothermia and non-life-threatening injuries following their rescue. Officials have not yet released an exact number of those treated.
Federal aid and climate questions
As images of the Texas flood today circulated online, concern grew over the state’s long-standing vulnerabilities. The flooding in Central Texas triggered multiple water rescues and displaced families across Kerr County and beyond.
Following the devastating floods across Kerr County, Governor Greg Abbott formally issued a disaster declaration, activating state emergency protocols and requesting federal support. In response, federal agencies including FEMA and the US Coast Guard were deployed to the region to assess damage, assist local rescue teams, and coordinate recovery operations.
President Donald Trump, who has been briefed on the situation, publicly pledged federal assistance and expressed support for ongoing search and relief efforts. The rapid deployment of federal and state resources comes amid mounting pressure from Texas lawmakers and residents demanding immediate action in the wake of one of the worst natural disasters to hit the Hill Country in recent memory.
The scale of destruction has revived long-standing concerns about Texas Hill Country’s flood infrastructure. Local officials and environmental engineers have pointed to aging dams, outdated drainage systems, and unmonitored tributaries that amplify the threat of flash flooding in communities like Hunt and Kerrville.
While cleanup continues, climate scientists are also raising broader alarms. “This is not just a freak event,” one Texas A&M climate researcher said. “These are the predictable consequences of intensifying rainfall and inadequate preparation.” Experts warn that unless Texas adapts its infrastructure to shifting climate realities, catastrophic floods like this one will only become more frequent.
What happens next for Camp Mystic?
Camp Mystic remains closed indefinitely as families from across Texas converge in Kerrville to reunite with their daughters. Some relatives have launched community fundraisers aimed at rebuilding camp infrastructure, while others are calling for greater accountability from camp leadership and emergency services, according to Daily Beast.
Now that the Guadalupe River is receding, it leaves more than just mud and debris, it raises deeper questions about the region’s preparedness, leadership, and the vulnerability of even well-established institutions to extreme weather events.
