Texas is mourning after devastating flash floods in the Hill Country region claimed more than 80 lives over the Fourth of July weekend. Officials report that the Guadalupe River rose more than 26 feet in just 45 minutes, overwhelming nearby communities and triggering an urgent statewide emergency response.
Among the hardest-hit locations was Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp in Hunt, Texas. The camp confirmed in a public statement that at least 27 campers and counselors lost their lives in the flooding. Several individuals remain unaccounted for, and search efforts are ongoing.
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” the camp wrote. “We are praying for them constantly and remain in close communication with local authorities who are continuing the search for missing girls.”
The camp also asked for privacy and compassion as families navigate the days ahead: “May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.”
The flooding followed an extraordinary weather event in which four months’ worth of rain fell within a matter of hours. The resulting flash floods struck with little warning in certain areas, raising questions about how alerts were issued and whether more could have been done to prepare residents.