KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) A catastrophic storm in the Texas Hill Country resulted in at least 24 fatalities and a continuous search for numerous missing individuals, including over 20 girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp near the Guadalupe River. The deluge unleashed nearly a foot of rain, causing the river to overflow its banks and inundate the surrounding areas.
Fast-rising floodwaters early on Friday morning led to the destruction of homes and swept away vehicles, prompting hundreds of rescue operations throughout Kerr County. Authorities reported that at least 167 of these rescues were conducted via helicopter. While the exact number of those missing remains uncertain, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha indicated that between 23 and 25 of the missing individuals are campers from Camp Mystic.
On social media, families frantically shared pleas for information about their loved ones trapped within the flood zone. One camper, 13-year-old Elinor Lester, described the scene at the camp, stating, "The camp was completely destroyed." She recounted how her cabin was roused by the raging storm around 1:30 a.m., and as rescuers arrived, the girls were instructed to hold onto a rope as they traversed a bridge while floodwaters rose around them.
The sudden and fierce flooding caught many residents, campers, and officials by surprise, particularly given that it occurred during the Fourth of July holiday. Officials defended their preparedness, but admitted they had not anticipated the scale of the rain, which far exceeded earlier forecasts estimating only three to six inches. Nim Kidd, head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, noted the unforeseen intensity of the deluge.
At a press conference on Friday evening, Sheriff Leitha confirmed the toll of 24 fatalities and stated that 237 people had been rescued thus far. Meteorologist Bob Fogarty from the National Weather Service reported a dramatic rise of 22 feet at a river gauge in Hunt within just two hours, which later failed after registering a peak of 29.5 feet.
The rescue efforts involved around 400 personnel, including nine rescue teams, 14 helicopters, and 12 drones, with some individuals being extricated from trees amid the chaos. Many residents, cringing from the unimaginable circumstances, expressed their experiences of fear and near-calamity. Erin Burgess, from Ingram, recalled clinging to a tree with her son while her boyfriend and dog were temporarily swept away. They later found safety but not without suffering immense stress.
Others echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the absence of timely warnings as the floodwaters rose. Matthew Stone, a resident, recounted the absence of emergency alerts, describing the moment he faced "a pitch black wall of death" as floodwaters engulfed his neighborhood.
In a reunification center set up in Ingram, families embraced as they were joined with their evacuated loved ones, creating moments of both relief and sorrow. Barry Adelman recounted how his three-story home became a refuge for family members, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson, who were all forced to flee to the attic as waters began to infiltrate their living space.
Local officials stated that while flood warnings had been issued for at least 30,000 people, many residents were ill-prepared for the sudden torrent. Judge Rob Kelly, the chief elected official of the county, remarked on the lack of a reliable warning system and reiterated that the severity of the flood had not been anticipated. The area is known for its susceptibility to flash floods due to its geography, as the thin layer of soil fails to absorb water quickly, causing rapid runoff.
The Texas Hill Country is a hub for river tourism and notable summer camps, drawing visitors for generations. However, the recent flood illustrated the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events and further emphasized the necessity for improved safety measures in the face of unexpected natural disasters.
