Catastrophic overnight flooding has killed at least 81 people across six Texas counties, with entire communities overwhelmed by rapidly rising water.
Kerr County was hit hardest, where 68 deaths have been confirmed—40 adults and 21 children. Much of the devastation centered on Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Floodwaters surged into cabins in the darkness, sweeping away beds and belongings. Ten campers and one counselor remain missing.
Officials say the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes after more than seven inches of rain fell before dawn. The river gauge stopped working at 29.5 feet, likely underestimating the true crest, which could be among the highest ever recorded.
Elsewhere, Burnet County reported three dead and three missing. Six fatalities were confirmed in Travis County, two in Kendall County, and one in Tom Green County, where San Angelo neighborhoods were inundated by more than a foot of rain.
Rescuers have pulled more than 850 people from flooded homes and roads. Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster across 21 counties and deployed over 1,300 personnel and 900 vehicles to assist.
Survivors described desperate efforts to escape. In Ingram, Erin Burgess and her teenage son clung to a tree for an hour after their home flooded, while her partner and dog were swept away before eventually reuniting.
At Camp Mystic, helicopters evacuated campers as families searched the wreckage. The camp was described as “completely destroyed.”
State emergency crews continue air, boat, and ground searches along the river and surrounding areas. Officials say efforts will not stop until all the missing are found.
Source: The Weather Channel