Texas Flood Disaster: 27 Girls Missing as Death Toll Climbs Past 50
Kerr County, Texas – Emergency crews in Texas continued urgent search-and-rescue efforts on Saturday after catastrophic flooding killed at least 50 people, including 15 children, and left dozens more missing — most notably 27 girls from a riverside summer camp.
Torrential rain swept through central Texas late Friday, triggering flash floods that devastated Kerr County, where at least 43 fatalities have been confirmed. Another eight people died in surrounding areas, and more rain is expected to worsen the already dire situation.
Texas officials acknowledged the diminishing odds of finding more survivors. “As hours pass, the likelihood decreases,” said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. However, Governor Greg Abbott has instructed rescuers to “assume everyone missing is still alive.”
Among the most concerning cases is the disappearance of 27 girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp located along the Guadalupe River. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said the girls vanished when the river surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes before dawn on Friday. “Catastrophic” rainfall overwhelmed the area, washing away homes, cabins, and vehicles, according to Sheriff Larry Leitha.
The flood struck as about 750 girls were camping for the Fourth of July weekend. In total, more than 1,700 rescue workers have been mobilized, and over 850 people have been rescued. Authorities continue to search the region by air and land, deploying drones, helicopters, and boats.
Officials report that among the bodies recovered, 12 adults and five children remain unidentified. One of the confirmed victims is Renee Smajstrla, a 9-year-old camper. Her uncle, Shawn Salta, shared the news on social media, saying: “While not the outcome we prayed for, we are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life.”
Search operations continue under treacherous conditions. Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick urged optimism, saying: “They could be in a tree. They could be out of communication. We’re praying for all those missing to be found alive.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued new flash flood warnings, calling the situation “particularly dangerous” and urging residents to seek higher ground. Rainfall this intense is becoming more common due to climate change, which has already caused a 20% increase in heavy rainfall days in eastern Texas since 1900 — with projections of another 10% rise in the coming decade.
Across the region, families are frantically searching for loved ones. On the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, dozens have posted photos and pleas for help. Elinor Lester, 13, who survived the flood at Camp Mystic, described waking to a storm before being evacuated across a bridge, clutching a rope as floodwaters surged around her legs. “It was really scary,” she said.
The flooding struck just after midnight, catching many off guard during what should have been a celebratory weekend. Officials admitted that forecasts didn’t anticipate such intense rainfall. “It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” said Kidd.
Some critics have pointed to budget and staffing cuts at the NWS under the Trump administration as a factor in the forecasting shortfall. Journalist Ron Filipkowski noted that earlier warnings from meteorologists about potential impacts of these cuts were ignored.
However, CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco defended the NWS, noting that a flood watch was issued more than 12 hours ahead of time, and a flash flood warning was in effect three hours before the Guadalupe River began to rise rapidly. “They did their job — and they did it well,” Tomasco wrote.
President Donald Trump addressed the crisis late Saturday morning via his Truth Social platform, offering prayers for the families affected and pledging federal support.
But during an afternoon news briefing, federal and state officials, including Gov. Abbott, Sen. John Cornyn, and Rep. Chip Roy, offered little detail on the missing or dead until pressed by reporters. Much of the initial time was spent praising the administration’s response.
Bob Fogarty, a meteorologist with the NWS Austin/San Antonio office, said a gauge near Camp Mystic recorded a 22-foot rise in river levels in just two hours before failing at 29.5 feet. “The water moves so fast, you won’t realize how bad it is until it’s on top of you,” he said.
Locals recounted harrowing escapes. Erin Burgess, a resident of Ingram, described clinging to a tree with her son after water poured into their home. “My son and I floated to a tree… my boyfriend and dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said. “Thankfully my son is over six feet tall — that’s what saved me.”
Others, like Barry Adelman, 54, described being trapped with his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson in the attic as water rose into their third story. “I had to look at my grandson and tell him everything would be okay, but inside, I was scared to death,” he said.
Despite warnings issued for at least 30,000 people, some residents say they received no alerts. “We got no emergency alert — nothing,” said Kerrville resident Matthew Stone, who described the flood as “a pitch-black wall of death.”
At a reunification center in Ingram, tearful scenes played out as families were reunited. Soldiers carried elderly evacuees down ladders, while others clutched pets and belongings. One girl in a soaked Camp Mystic T-shirt sobbed in her mother’s arms.
County Judge Rob Kelly admitted Kerr County has no formal warning system. “No one knew this kind of flood was coming,” he said.
The region — known as “Flash Flood Alley” — is vulnerable due to shallow soil and steep hills, explained Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. “Water doesn’t soak in here — it races downhill,” he said.
Dickson added that river-based tourism, especially youth summer camps, is central to the local economy. “This is usually a peaceful, clear river that families and children have enjoyed for generations,” he said.
