The death toll continues to rise after floodwaters caused massive destruction in Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend. By Monday (July 7), officials said at least 89 people had died, with dozens still missing.
Among the hardest-hit areas were Kerr County and the town of Hunt, where about 750 girls were attending Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River. On Monday morning, the camp confirmed that 27 of its campers and counselors were killed in the flash flooding. Camp Director Richard Eastland also died, reportedly while trying to save campers.
In the early hours of July 4, more than a foot of rain fell in the area, causing the river to rise 26 feet in just 45 minutes. People who awoke to swiftly rising waters broke out through windows and awaited rescue from attics and trees. The powerful flooding destroyed bridges, roads, campgrounds, trailers, and much of Camp Mystic, which was established in 1926.
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Generations of Girls Have Attended Camp Mystic
Throughout the holiday weekend, Americans held out hope for search-and-rescue efforts in Texas Hill Country. By Sunday (July 6), several families began to confirm that their daughters hadn’t survived the flooding at Camp Mystic. Most of the deceased girls were 8 or 9 years old; as the youngest campers, their cabins were located closest to the Guadalupe River.
In its statement Monday, Camp Mystic wrote, “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.” The camp expressed gratitude for authorities, rescuers, and “the outpouring of support.” The statement concluded with a request for ongoing prayer, saying, “May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.”
According to its website, the private camp offers girls “a wholesome Christian atmosphere in which they can develop outstanding personal qualities and self-esteem.” Ideals of the camp include self-improvement, spiritual growth, and lifelong friendships.
On “The Today Show” Monday, host and former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager said her mother, former First Lady Laura Bush, had been a drama counselor at Camp Mystic. “Texas camps are institutions,” according to Bush Hager, a Texas native.
Glenn Juenke, a security guard at Camp Mystic, described placing campers on mattresses when water rose. “I witnessed firsthand the courage and faith that your daughters displayed during some of the most terrifying moments of their young lives,” he told parents. “Each of those sweet girls was cold, wet, and frightened but…also incredibly brave. They trusted me, and we leaned on each other through a long, harrowing night together inside their cabin.”
Video posted to Facebook shows a busload of evacuated Camp Mystic attendees singing Christian songs. Out the windows, floodwaters, destruction, and rescue vehicles are visible.
Among the victims from Camp Mystic is 9-year-old Janie Hunt, a relative of Kansas City Chiefs co-owner Clark Hunt. On Instagram, Tavia Hunt, Clark’s wife, posted that “God is near” to those who mourn and is “still worthy.” She added the words of 1 Thessalonians 4:13, about Christians being able to grieve with hope.
