Flash Flood Tragedy in Texas: 24 Dead, Dozens Missing After Catastrophic Rains Slam Guadalupe River
Torrential rains turned deadly in Texas on Friday as flash floods ripped through communities along the Guadalupe River, killing at least 24 people and leaving dozens missing, according to local authorities scrambling to mount rescue efforts.
A massive search-and-rescue mission is underway after 23 to 25 people, many of them campers from an all-girls Christian summer camp, were reported missing near the riverbanks overwhelmed by rapidly rising water.
The disaster struck with frightening speed. After months of drought, the region saw multiple inches of rain dumped within hours—turning dry land into deadly rivers. Entire riverfront communities and children’s camps were hit hard, with boats and helicopters deployed in a race against time.
The US National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency for Kerr County, deep in the Texas Hill Country, as the Guadalupe River surged past historic levels. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed at least 24 fatalities, calling it "catastrophic flooding."
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick shared grim updates at a Friday press briefing, revealing that 23 girls were missing from Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer retreat that had 750 campers at the time. He urged the public to stay clear of the area as 14 helicopters and hundreds of emergency personnel combed through the wreckage.
“We’ve recovered between six and ten bodies so far,” Patrick said. “Some are adults, some are children. At this point, we don’t know where they all came from.”
Former President Donald Trump was briefed on the disaster and pledged full federal support, saying, "Whatever we need, we can have." While flying aboard Air Force One, Trump reassured the public: "We’ll take care of them."
A hundred state troopers were also deployed to assist in ongoing operations, with many more expected.
The destruction began when 5 to 10 inches of rain fell overnight in Kerr and Kendall counties, as a slow-moving storm unleashed its fury. The Guadalupe River crested at one of its highest levels on record—water levels in Kerrville surged over 22 feet in mere hours.
Rescue teams rushed in as dozens remained trapped or missing. Texas State Senator Pete Flores emphasized the urgency: “This is a critical 24-hour window. We're in full search-and-rescue mode.”
Worse still, more rain is forecasted, including around Waco, raising concerns for flooding further downstream from Kerr County.
Dalton Rice, city manager for Kerrville, explained the storm struck with almost no warning. “This happened in under two hours. Not even radar could predict it. We didn’t have time to issue evacuation orders,” he said.
Officials are particularly concerned for the many summer camps scattered across this rural region, now likely filled with children and staff.
The Texas Hill Country, known for its scenic beauty, vineyards, and vacation rentals, is also infamous for flash flooding. This time, it proved tragically true.
Desperate families took to social media, posting pleas for any news about their children, nieces, nephews, and loved ones at camps in the region.
The Ingram Fire Department posted a photo of a statement from Camp Mystic, describing the scene as "catastrophic level floods." The camp said it had directly contacted parents whose daughters were unaccounted for.
“We are working with search-and-rescue teams,” the camp wrote. “The highway is washed out, making it hard to get help. Please keep praying and send help if you have connections.”
As the danger persists, authorities are pleading with residents to stay off flooded roads. The National Weather Service in San Angelo warned: "Conditions are life-threatening. DO NOT travel. Expect washed-out roads and rapid river surges.”
The Sheriff’s Office echoed that call: “The entire county is an active emergency zone. Residents should shelter in place and move to higher ground if near any water bodies.”
This flooding nightmare follows a long drought, which left the soil so dry that rainfall ran off rapidly—fueling the flash flooding.
Erin Burgess, who lives in the Bumble Bee Hills neighborhood near Ingram, described a terrifying ordeal to the Associated Press. She woke at 3:30 a.m. to thunder and moderate rain—but within 20 minutes, floodwaters were pouring through her home.
“We floated to a tree and held on, while my boyfriend and dog drifted away,” she said. “We were lucky to find them later.”
Of her 19-year-old son, she added, “Thank God he’s over 6 feet tall—that’s what kept me alive. I held on to him.”
While Texas battled chaos, strong storms in central New Jersey claimed three lives, including two men killed when a tree fell onto their vehicle during the storm’s peak in Plainfield. One was 79, the other just 25. In response, Fourth of July celebrations were canceled in the city—“out of good conscience,” officials said.