Egypt Daily News – At least 32 people, including 14 children, have lost their lives in Kerrville after the Guadalupe River rose 30 feet above its usual level, devastating summer camps for children and tearing families apart. that struck Central Texas this week, overwhelming rural communities and triggering an ongoing search for more than two dozen children swept away from a summer camp.
The disaster unfolded rapidly along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, where torrential rains caused the river to rise nearly 26 feet in under an hour. One of the worst-hit locations was Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls’ camp near the small town of Hunt.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as floodwaters surged through the campgrounds in the early hours, destroying buildings, toppling trees, and sweeping away cabins with little warning.
Many Texans have pointed to the slow flow of information as a key factor in the deaths of 32 people and the continued disappearance of 27 others. Among the deceased, three children and five adults remain unidentified.
Governor Greg Abbott announced that the search for survivors will continue around the clock. “We will find every one of them,” he vowed on Saturday, calling the state’s response to the disaster “quintessentially Texas.”
“When Texas faces a challenge, we come together, we unite,” he said while seated next to Governor Kristi Noem. “It’s what Texans do, and it’s what we will continue to do. We won’t stop today or tomorrow—we’ll stop when it’s finished.”
Abbott also signed a formal request for federal assistance, which Noem said the president is expected to approve.
Among the confirmed dead are two campers, 8-year-old Renee Smajstrla and 9-year-old Janie Hunt, whose bodies were recovered downstream. Officials say that at least 23 other girls from the camp remain missing, and rescuers are continuing search operations by boat, air, and ground.
More than 237 people have been rescued since the flooding began, including dozens of campers and staff who managed to reach higher ground. Emergency personnel from across the state have been deployed to assist with search-and-rescue operations, including the Texas National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, FEMA, and specialized urban search teams. Helicopters, drones, and canine units have been deployed across the flood zone.
Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration for the affected counties and promised full state support for rescue and recovery efforts. He called the flood one of the most devastating natural disasters to strike the state in recent memory. Officials urged residents to avoid flooded areas to ensure emergency crews could operate without obstruction.
The flood was triggered by an unusually intense and slow-moving weather system that dropped more than a foot of rain over a large area in just two days. Meteorologists described the storm as highly anomalous and warned that additional rainfall over the weekend could worsen already dangerous conditions.
In the immediate aftermath, questions have emerged about the lack of early warning at the camp. Authorities acknowledged that there was no flood alert issued in time to evacuate, and the camp did not appear to have an automated emergency notification system. Survivors recounted being awakened by the sound of water rushing into their cabins in the dark, with only minutes to flee.
President Donald Trump has issued a federal disaster declaration and pledged that national resources would be made available to Texas for both rescue and long-term recovery. The federal response includes logistical support, recovery funding, and additional personnel to assist state and local agencies.
Communities across Kerr County and the surrounding Hill Country are now grappling with the scale of the destruction. Roads have been washed out, homes and businesses destroyed, and communications disrupted in several areas. More than 50,000 residents remain without power, and some towns remain inaccessible due to high water and debris.
Temporary shelters have been established in schools, churches, and community centers, providing food, bedding, and emotional support to displaced families. Mental health counselors and clergy have been mobilized to support survivors and those waiting for news of the missing.
As the water slowly begins to recede, recovery operations are expected to stretch into the coming weeks. Initial estimates suggest that the financial cost of the flooding could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Infrastructure damage is extensive, and rebuilding efforts will be long and complex.
For now, the focus remains on the urgent search for the missing girls and the ongoing effort to care for those affected. Officials have asked the public for patience and support as crews continue to work around the clock. The tragedy has cast a long shadow over what was meant to be a joyful summer, and communities across Texas are uniting in grief and resolve.
