Fatalities Rise to 51 in Texas Flash Floods, Including Camp Mystic Kids

The recent flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas have resulted in 51 deaths, including 28 adults and 15 children in Kerr County. Among the victims were five young girls attending a Christian summer retreat, Camp Mystic, where 22 other campers remain missing.

Social media tributes reveal heartbreaking loss. A family member shared that Renee Smajstrla, one of the girls lost, was promptly identified thanks to widespread online outreach, even though her family’s hopes for her recovery have faded. “She was having the time of her life at Camp Mystic. Please pray for the families,” her uncle stated.

Sarah Marsh’s grandmother expressed profound grief after her granddaughter’s death was confirmed. Sarah, from Alabama, was remembered as a bright, lively girl. Lila Bonner’s family also confirmed her passing, describing their suffering as “unimaginable grief.” Lila and her close friend Eloise Peck, both campers, drowned amid rising floodwaters.

The floods caused extensive damage: entire walls of cabins were ripped away, trees uprooted, and belongings strewn. Camp Mystic, a 99-year-old institution serving over 750 girls, was evacuated overnight, with many girls swept away by the sudden deluge. Another nearby camp, Heart O The Hills, also lost a director, Jane Ragsdale, who died trying to rescue others.

Rescue efforts have been extensive, with over 858 people rescued and eight injured. Search operations continue despite ongoing rain, with floodwaters reaching unprecedented heights—26 feet in 45 minutes—last seen in the area since 1987. Authorities warn that recovery efforts will be long, but every missing person is still presumed alive until proven otherwise.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott expanded disaster declarations to include six additional counties, with more than 1,000 responders mobilized. The state’s response includes helicopters, federal agencies, and the Coast Guard, dedicated to finding and assisting those affected.

Heavy rainfall persists, and flood warnings remain in effect from San Antonio to Waco for the next 24-48 hours, as officials and first responders continue their urgent search and rescue missions.