Survivors Recall Horror of Flood at Camp Mystic

Many who survived the July floods at Camp Mystic describe a terrifying ordeal, recalling hearing screams of girls trapped in flooded cabins in the dark as waters rapidly rose.

The flooding occurred around 3 a.m., earlier than previously believed. A survivor recounted that counselors had told the younger children they had been moved to safety before the floods, but in reality, at least 27 children were dragged away by the water to their deaths.

At the time, approximately 650 campers and staff were asleep when a severe flash flood warning was issued at 1:14 a.m., warning of “catastrophic” risk and potential loss of life, according to weather authorities.

Amelia Moore, 14, awoke around 2 a.m. after hearing thunder. She was later told to ignore the screams from the cabins downhill in the floodway of the Guadalupe River, instructing her to stay inside. Soon, other girls explained their cabins were flooding, making her realize the storm was far more dangerous than a typical summer storm.

She watched peers in the youngest campers’ cabin, known as Chatterbox, climb through a window and escape in the dark, some barefoot and in pajamas. It was heartbreaking to learn that the camp’s reassurance that the flats were safe was false and that many children had been left in harm’s way.

The water had inundated many of the cabins, forcing the youngest campers to flee through treacherous terrain. Amelia expressed frustration that the camp had falsely assured everyone that all were safe, leading to a false sense of security amid a rapidly escalating disaster.

The rescue efforts were painfully slow, with helicopters arriving only after more than 12 hours. Rescue workers, few of whom appeared to be older than 21, prayed amid the chaos as floodwaters cut off access to Senior Hill—the area where many older campers were stranded without food or communication, due to strict camp rules preventing them from keeping snacks or phones.

Amelia reflected on how the situation might have been less chaotic if there had been better warning systems. The evacuation was hampered by limited aircraft capacity and unclear leadership. She said, “We should have been a lot more panicked, but we didn’t realize anything was wrong until it was almost too late.”

The aftermath revealed extensive damage, with rescue teams searching flooded cabins filled with scattered belongings. The tragedy has deeply marked the community, highlighting the need for improved early warning systems and safety protocols at such sites.