A week of fun at Camp Mystic, a beloved girls' summer camp on Texas's Guadalupe River, turned tragic on July 4, 2025, when record flash floods devastated the campground. Children and counselors who were "having the time of their lives" are now at the center of one of the most deadly tragedies of recent times, transforming a peaceful retreat into a zone of devastation.
Flash Flood Swept In Without Warning In the early morning of July 4, the waters of Tropical Storm Barry brought torrential rains, over a foot in hours. The Guadalupe River suddenly swelled by 26‑35 ft, washing cabins away and flooding the campground in an hour. The camp, housing around 750 girls aged 8 to 16 years old in sessions beginning June 29, was leveled. The swiftness of the flood left residents with little time to evacuate.
Panic, Rescue, and Missing Persons Initial responders, including helicopters, boats, drones, and over 500 employees, were deployed. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick reassured the public: "If you have not been personally contacted, then your daughter has been accounted for". But as of July 6, officials said that at least 70 were dead, including 21 children, with 11 campers and one counselor still unaccounted for.
Survival and Tragedy Stories Families reported gruesome escapes. Thirteen-year-old Stella said she held onto the roof of a cabin with friends as water rushed underneath. One mother, Serena Aldrich, whose 9- and 12-year-old daughters were rescued, accused the camp, saying staff "should have been on top of it," given flood warnings. Meanwhile, there were uplifting stories: 27 people, including campers washed miles downstream, were rescued alive.
Historical Context and Widening Impact Camp Mystic, founded in 1926, it's a private Christian girls' camp with outdoor activities and spiritual growth, located about 18 miles from Kerrville. The Texas Hill Country has experienced repeated flash flooding over the years, but this is the most deadly in 40 years, with a final death count of 70 in multiple counties. Camps nearby were evacuated; at Camp Waldemar, the campers were airlifted to safety in mid-flood.
Accountability, Recovery, and Emotional Fallout There is criticism for not evacuating despite the forecast. Governor Greg Abbott visited, announcing tireless search and rescue operations and a state proclamation of major disaster, issuing a call for a day of prayer. Pope Leo XIV and President Trump offered condolences and promised federal support. North Texas local volunteers, being former campers as well, have banded together to help families and clear debris