On what ought to have been a festive Fourth of July, catastrophe struck in Central Texas.Flash flooding left at the very least 32 useless in Kerr County, and about two dozen youngsters are lacking from Camp Mystic, a Christian camp for women alongside the Guadalupe River.At a press convention on Saturday with Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem, Gov. Greg Abbott, and different Texas politicians, an emergency official mentioned the 32 useless included 18 adults and 14 youngsters.Throughout the press convention, Abbott signed a federal catastrophe declaration, which Noem mentioned President Donald Trump would “honor.””I’ve visited with the president already about this federal catastrophe declaration that the governor was going to signal right here this morning, and he has indicated that he’ll honor that and that he’ll settle for that, in order that response and that aid will probably be coming,” Noem mentioned.Abbott additionally issued a catastrophe declaration for six Texas counties along with the 15 he recognized on Friday.On Reality Social, Trump mentioned his administration was working with state and native officers to reply to the flooding.”Melania and I are praying for all the households impacted by this horrible tragedy,” Trump wrote on Saturday. “Our Courageous First Responders are on website doing what they do greatest. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”Officers mentioned as a lot as 12 inches of rain fell within the county on Friday, and extra rainfall is anticipated all through the weekend. The Nationwide Climate Service first issued a flash flood warning at 4 a.m. on Friday.A determined search is underway for survivors. Officers didn’t say what number of would possibly nonetheless be lacking outdoors of the group staying at Camp Mystic. Situated in Hunt, the summer season camp has about 750 campers.
A raging Guadalupe River left particles behind on Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas.
AP Photograph/Eric Homosexual
“That doesn’t imply they have been misplaced,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick mentioned at a press convention Friday afternoon. “They could possibly be in a tree. They could possibly be out of communication. We’re praying for all these lacking to be discovered alive.”
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In a press release posted to its web site, the Coronary heart O’ the Hills, one other ladies’ camp primarily based in Hunt, mentioned its director, Jane Ragsdale, had died within the floods.”We now have acquired phrase that Jane Ragsdale didn’t make it,” it mentioned. “We’re mourning the lack of a lady who influenced numerous lives and was the definition of robust and highly effective.”It added that the camp was not in session because the flooding hit, and that “most of those that had been on camp on the time have been accounted for and are on excessive floor.”Patrick mentioned throughout the afternoon press convention that the Guadalupe River rose 26 ft in 45 minutes.
Map of Camp Mystic on the Guadalupe River
Google Maps
On Fb, dad and mom and group members have circulated flyers with contact numbers, urging the general public to assist find the lacking youngsters.Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha mentioned at a press convention on Saturday morning that he anticipated the dying toll to rise.Kerr County has an estimated inhabitants of about 53,900, in keeping with a 2024 counting by the US Census Bureau. The county sits within the Hill Nation area of Central Texas, which incorporates cities like San Antonio and Austin. Past the Guadalupe River, the area is residence to a number of others, together with the Colorado, Concho, and Blanco Rivers.With the county targeted on finding the lacking, a number of native cities have canceled Independence Day occasions.It is a growing story. Verify again for updates.
