Central Texas Floods Kill at Least 24, Including 9-Year-Old Camper at Camp Mystic
Flash flooding devastates Kerr County as rescue operations continue amid heavy rainfall; dozens still unaccounted for
HUNT, Texas – July 5 (UPI) — The death toll from severe flash floods in Central Texas has risen to at least 24, with one confirmed death of a 9-year-old girl at Camp Mystic in Kerr County. Torrential rainstorms dumped as much as 10 inches of rain in just a few hours, overwhelming the region’s rivers and triggering emergency rescue efforts across multiple counties.
Texas Game Wardens entered Camp Mystic on Friday afternoon after flooding cut off access to the area. Janie Hunt, 9, was confirmed dead by her mother on Saturday after initially being reported missing along with 20 other campers.
Kerr County, located approximately 65 miles northwest of San Antonio, was hit hardest, with the Guadalupe River rising more than 20 feet in just two hours. The sudden rise caused widespread destruction, submerging roads, toppling power lines, and stranding residents and campers.
“Imagine four months of rain in just six hours,” meteorologist Matthew Cappucci posted on X (formerly Twitter), reporting over 10 inches of rainfall, compared to the region’s usual 28–32 inches annually.
Emergency Declared in Multiple Texas Counties
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 15 counties, including Kerr, Bandera, Comal, Llano, and Gillespie. The declaration provides access to state resources for rescue, recovery, and shelter efforts.
More than 500 rescue personnel, including 14 helicopters, 12 drones, and 107 Texas game wardens, were deployed to affected regions. Approximately 237 people were rescued, many airlifted from rooftops and trees.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stated that while some campers remain unaccounted for, “it does not mean they are lost.” Emergency crews are in constant communication with camps along the Guadalupe River, and Camp Mystic remains the only camp with people still missing.
Tragedy Strikes Local Camps and Community
Jane Ragsdale, co-owner and director of Heart O’ the Hills Camp, also died in the flooding, the camp confirmed in a public statement. She was remembered as a strong leader who deeply influenced generations of campers.
“Thankfully, camp was not in session, and most of those who were there have been accounted for and are safe on higher ground,” the camp’s statement read.
In Kerrville, where the two forks of the Guadalupe River meet, water levels rose from 7 feet to 29 feet overnight, according to City Manager Dalton Rice.
“Within 90 minutes, the water rose 25 feet. It was terrifying,” Rice said, recalling early morning scenes of chaos.
Weather Forecast and Ongoing Flood Alerts
The National Weather Service maintains a Flash Flood Emergency across parts of Burnet, Williamson, and Travis counties. Another 2 to 4 inches of rain are expected Saturday, with isolated totals of up to 10 inches possible.
“Seek higher ground immediately if near a flooded creek or stream,” the weather service warned in an urgent message on X.
Despite earlier warnings, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd noted that the intensity of the rainfall exceeded forecasts. President Donald Trump, speaking Friday night, confirmed federal support:
“We’ll take care of them. It’s shocking — young lives lost. It’s heartbreaking,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
🔍 Meta Description (SEO):
Severe flooding in Central Texas has claimed at least 24 lives, including a 9-year-old girl at Camp Mystic. Emergency rescues are ongoing as the Guadalupe River rises over 20 feet amid heavy rains.
thepolitics, the politics, flash flood warning, austin flooding, what caused the flooding in texas, flash flood, national weather service, update on camp mystic campers, map of texas flooding, llano texas, weather san antonio, texas flood summer camp, texas hill country flooding, where is camp mystic, what part of texas is flooding, kerville tx,
janie hunt camp mystic, kerville texas, hill country texas, kxan news, texas river flooding, guadalupe river flood, lcra, what is camp mystic in texas, austin, camp mystic flooding update, Texas floods 2025, Camp Mystic flooding, Kerr County flash flood, Guadalupe River flood, Texas flood death toll, Janie Hunt flood, Texas camp flood news, Texas weather emergency,
