The Texas Hill Country awoke on July 4 to a disaster no family should ever endure: intense overnight storms sent the Guadalupe River surging 26 feet in just 45 minutes, destroying cabins, sweeping away vehicles, and taking at least 13 precious lives while more than 20 girls from Camp Mystic and neighboring camps remain unaccounted for.
Our hearts break for every parent waiting by a phone, every rescuer combing debris‑choked water, and every community member whose home or business now lies in mud. In this time of crisis, we stand united as a community. No words can erase this pain, but we can bear witness, grieve together, and support one another on the long road to healing.
What We Know So Far
A Sudden, Relentless Wall of Water
- Up to 10 inches of rain fell over central Kerr County before dawn, triggering a flash‑flood emergency.
- The Guadalupe’s crest—second‑highest on record—overtook riverfront camps, including the girls‑only Camp Mystic, Vista Camps, La Junta, and Waldemar.
- Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed 13 fatalities; officials fear the toll may climb.
- About 23 campers or staff are still out of contact, according to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Scenes of Courage and Loss
- Helicopter crews pulled stranded residents from rooftops at first light.
- Local reporters described “a horrifying scene” as cabins collapsed and propane tanks bobbed in the current.
- Parents received anxious e‑mails: “If you have not been personally contacted, your daughter is accounted for,” yet many still wait for confirmation.
Standing With the Families
Grief Beyond Words
For every empty bunk bed and unanswered text, a family’s world has tilted off its axis. Young campers who set out to make friendship bracelets are now facing trauma no child should know. Counselors who sang lullabies only hours earlier are suddenly first responders. We honor their courage and share their tears.
Community Response
- Churches in Kerrville and Hunt have opened fellowship halls for displaced families and volunteers.
- The Hill Country Red Cross has set up a family‑reunification hotline and is distributing blankets, phone chargers, and hygiene kits.
- Local veterinarians are caring for pets rescued from flooded cabins at no cost, recognizing that animals, too, are part of the family.
How You Can Help
- Donate blood: The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center reports an urgent need for type O blood after field transfusions.
- Support verified relief funds: The Kerr Community Foundation has launched a designated Flood Relief Fund, with 100% of the funds going to victims’ housing and medical expenses.
- Respect privacy: Families have asked media and onlookers to avoid camp entrances so crews can work unimpeded.
Honoring the Young Campers
Summer camp should be a place of laughter, canoe races, and songs by the riverbank. Many of the girls still missing were on their first trip away from home. Friends describe them as budding artists, eager athletes, and compassionate classmates who wrote encouragement notes to cabin‑mates. Even as we pray for their safe return, we also remember the children and adults confirmed lost—each a universe of dreams now departed too soon.
A Call for Reflection and Preparedness
Officials acknowledge Kerr County has no county‑wide flood‑siren system and relies on phone alerts that can fail in remote hills. In the weeks ahead, engineers and policymakers will study warning systems, elevated structures, and real-time river-gauge networks to mitigate future risks. This commitment to future preparedness should reassure us all. Today, however, our focus remains steadfastly on comfort: delivering meals to responders, donating art supplies to displaced campers, and offering a shoulder to exhausted parents.
Lighting the Path Forward
As evening vigils begin along the riverbanks, thousands of candles flicker against a backdrop of ruined cabins—small flames of solidarity that say, You are not alone. Let us keep those lights burning: in our prayers, our donations, our volunteer hours, and our insistence that children’s safety guide every future decision on the Guadalupe.
May the families of Kerr County feel the embrace of the entire Texas community and beyond. In the words posted outside a local church today, “When the waters rise, love rises higher.” We are deeply grateful to all the volunteers, donors, and community members who have stepped up to support the affected families. Your kindness and generosity are the true light in this dark time.
