TX TX-Hunt, Overnight flooding at Camp Mystic, all girls camp. Unknown number of missing. July 4, 2025

[SleutherGirl]

This is absolutely heartbreaking. I can't stop thinking about the families and those poor girls. Is there any hope at this point? Do we know for sure if the cabins were swept away, or is it possible some of the girls were trying to evacuate themselves and got caught in the floodwaters that way? Just praying for a miracle.

According to Burleson family's grandparents are among those missing in catastrophic flooding the local news, multiple cabins were moved by the floodwater from where they were before.

 

[IceIce9]

Until a person has witnessed or survived a flood, they will never understand the power or the dynamics.

I’ve seen two flash floods. Once you see entire trees and vehicles being carried swiftly downstream you never forget it.

 

[Cryptic]

Some folks might not have even been reported missing yet. Though I guess they will have reservation lists to work from?

I imagine they do. But.... the reservation lists are probably not on the accuracy level of passenger jet loading manifests.

Some RV park owners may require detailed reservation information for say accountability and to keep problematic stayers from re-appearing with a different group. Other RV park owners may have only general information.

Even the summer camps might not readily have complete reservation information. Depending on the camp, several separate church church or social groups can share the same larger camp at the same time. Then factor in that sudden drop outs, add ins and "might be coming- but maybe nots" are not uncommon.

 

[Lore Listener]

This is absolutely heartbreaking. I can't stop thinking about the families and those poor girls. Is there any hope at this point? Do we know for sure if the cabins were swept away, or is it possible some of the girls were trying to evacuate themselves and got caught in the floodwaters that way? Just praying for a miracle.

Same. My 11-year-old is at camp in Colorado right now and I can’t stop crying. She was actually born days after we similar historic flooding here in CO in 2013. It’s hard enough to have your baby away for three weeks and only be able to be in touch with them through letters. My heart is just shattered for these parents.

 

[legomonster]

O

I am not disagreeing with you, but I am still looking for confirmation a flood warning was issued. A flood watch issued differs from flood warning. Watch means: be aware, it may happen. Flood warning -=flood is going to, or happening right now.

There was a gap of over 4 + hours before the city or county offices updated their Facebook pages. Unfortunately, I'm slammed at work and can't individually map each warning given. I hope this helps. I try to use visuals to help explain to others.

 

[10ofRods]

Until a person has witnessed or survived a flood, they will never understand the power or the dynamics.

My dad lost everything (almost lost his life, managed to save his dog) in 1938 SoCal Floods. Then, when we were living in a flood plain when I was a kid, he looked hard to find a (small) house that was up on a rise and also not flat on the ground (it actually had a half basement under it and the floor was 3 feet off the ground). We watched as some of our neighbors had flooding. It can happen very quickly. We were under evacuation orders maybe 5 times while I was growing up. But Dad never evacuated. He went down to the river and watched it, along with a lot of other people. A big pile of rocks hedged the house-facing side by then, and when those started to move up river, then he'd think about evacuation (we weren't on the river's edge - but other people were). He'd go door to door to make sure they knew and in those days, we all knew where all the elderly or disabled people were in our little neighborhood. When I was 8, I was allowed to stay and help for my first flood.

There were actual cows, goats, smudge pots, farm equipment, fencing, and small cars floating down the main road near our house! Fast! And those big rocks started to move up river, with a sound like explosions. Whole trees were uprooted and floated past. I think all us kids learned healthy respect for being near flowing water. And this was on fairly good farmland, not that hard rock that Flood Alley is on. Sure, structures got flooded, but fortunately I think only one life was lost in our town in the 1965 flood. It started to flood in the middle of the night, and by 5 am, our neighbors across the street had enough water to go up past the hoods of their garaged cars. We kept emergency provisions in the car during rainy season and in 1965, with waters still rising at 5 am, my mom evacuated herself and our pets to her mom's house.

So our "communication plan" was going door to door as volunteers, no cell phones. Actual phone service went out early.

A satellite phone and a communications plan is essential today - but really, everyone living in Flood Alley ought to have evacuated after the NWS gave the warning 12 hours earlier, especially if children were involved. It would be different if each child had one parent supervising and guiding (one nature-knowledgeable parent, not the kooks who try to surf floodwater!)

Camp Mystic and all the other camps should have had flood evacuation plans in case and at least got everyone to high ground (where those other cabins were) before people bedded down and well within the 12 hours after the alert went out. I wonder if anyone at the camp was even checking the weather or whether they had emergency training of staff for flood emergencies. I surely hope so.

 

[Charlot123]

O

I am not disagreeing with you, but I am still looking for confirmation a flood warning was issued. A flood watch issued differs from flood warning. Watch means: be aware, it may happen. Flood warning -=flood is going to, or happening right now.

There was at least a weather channel warning and an X warning. Of course, considering that the Internet might have not been super reliable in the area, and the time when it happened, I assume it might have not reached the camp in time.

But we are still facing the issue of timely awareness.

(Having lived at Midwest for one year, and Midwest is habitually flooded, I heard enough horror stories not to be surprised in general. Even with ample warnings about floods and tornadoes). Still, I hope that each state might eventually end up with to a better, safer local warning system, at least for more common hazards.

 

[wendybtn]

After 1987, I find it almost unbelievable that the housing wasn't built up higher or the land and banks weren't graded at some point, especially at this elite Christian girls camp.

History of Camp Mystic, summer camp hit by deadly Central Texas floods

Rescue operations are ongoing in Central Texas after flash flooding along the Guadalupe River left 23 girls from Camp Mystic unaccounted for. Officials say dozens have died as catastrophic floods continue to ravage the Hill Country.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[10ofRods]

O

I am not disagreeing with you, but I am still looking for confirmation a flood warning was issued. A flood watch issued differs from flood warning. Watch means: be aware, it may happen. Flood warning -=flood is going to, or happening right now.

This is your local interpretation. For me, "watch" and "warning" are nearly synonymous, because I tend to err way on the side of caution. At any rate, several FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS were issued (not just flood watch; not just flood warning, but FLASH flood warning) for something like ALL of four counties, one of which was the one where Camp Mystic was located.

Officials say the problem is that they have no push technology or any sure way of making sure endangered humans are checking for the alerts. They were pushed out to LE, but who else? What's the County level plan for that information? As we saw in the L.A. area fires, the plan wasn't even followed, so it was useless. In the L.A. Case, I blame the Mayor and the County Board of Supervisors for not making their fire officials submit reviewable plans twice a year. We have that in my county, after one of those record setting fires swept through 5 years ago. We had training at all our schools and colleges. We reviewed all our state-mandated planning and fixed things. Emergency cell phones, for example, sometimes had non working batteries, etc. Staff checks those phones monthly now. And there are extras stored in many different accessible places, along with emergency communication buttons to summon police or fire if all else fails.

Local

KVII serves the Amarillo, Texas and Panhandle region with local news, sports and weather for the city and surrounding towns, including Canyon, Hereford, Borger, Pampa, Dalhart, Dumas, Childress, Perryton, Clarendon, Texas; Guymon, Oklahoma; and Clovis, Portales, Tucumcari, New Mexico.

abc7amarillo.com

officials-say-warnings-issued-but-lack-of-alert-system-left-many-unprepared-for-flood-hill-country-storms-rain-flooding-san-antonio-texas-helicopter-rescue-kerrville

 

[sunflowermomma]

My heart is breaking for the families still waiting for news. MOO, the most recent press conference was not very helpful...a lot of admin talk about agencies instead of concrete information and updates. I wish there were more updates around SAR and what is being done to locate everyone. I have seen a few news outlets reporting on an RV camp that was obliterated, there may be so many more missing people than we know right now...

 

[Herat]

This is your local interpretation. For me, "watch" and "warning" are nearly synonymous, because I tend to err way on the side of caution. At any rate, several FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS were issued (not just flood watch; not just flood warning, but FLASH flood warning) for something like ALL of four counties, one of which was the one where Camp Mystic was located.

Officials say the problem is that they have no push technology or any sure way of making sure endangered humans are checking for the alerts. They were pushed out to LE, but who else? What's the County level plan for that information? As we saw in the L.A. area fires, the plan wasn't even followed, so it was useless. In the L.A. Case, I blame the Mayor and the County Board of Supervisors for not making their fire officials submit reviewable plans twice a year. We have that in my county, after one of those record setting fires swept through 5 years ago. We had training at all our schools and colleges. We reviewed all our state-mandated planning and fixed things. Emergency cell phones, for example, sometimes had non working batteries, etc. Staff checks those phones monthly now. And there are extras stored in many different accessible places, along with emergency communication buttons to summon police or fire if all else fails.

Local

KVII serves the Amarillo, Texas and Panhandle region with local news, sports and weather for the city and surrounding towns, including Canyon, Hereford, Borger, Pampa, Dalhart, Dumas, Childress, Perryton, Clarendon, Texas; Guymon, Oklahoma; and Clovis, Portales, Tucumcari, New Mexico.

abc7amarillo.com

officials-say-warnings-issued-but-lack-of-alert-system-left-many-unprepared-for-flood-hill-country-storms-rain-flooding-san-antonio-texas-helicopter-rescue-kerrville

Also, states that are at risk of large tsunamis have loud warning sirens and tsunami evacuation plans with regular drills.

These occur in Hawaii, as well as coastal Washington, Oregon, and northern California regions.

Surely, there could be better audible notification for flash floods.

I would think that the large number of children's camps in this region should also have regular camper drills for floods and wildfires, just as other institutions have regular fire or hazardous materials drills.

 

[Stunned]

Also, states that are at risk of large tsunamis have loud warning sirens and tsunami evacuation plans with regular drills.

These occur in Hawaii, as well as coastal Washington, Oregon, and northern California regions.

Surely, there could be better audible notification for flash floods.

I would think that the large number of children's camps in this region should also have regular camper drills for floods and wildfires, just as other institutions have regular fire or hazardous materials drills.

You would sure hope your children's camps had these types of drills!

 

[10ofRods]

After 1987, I find it almost unbelievable that the housing wasn't built up higher or the land and banks weren't graded at some point, especially at this elite Christian girls camp.

Apparently, they did have higher elevation housing, but for whatever reason, that's where they put the older girls. I'm guessing it's as simple as humans making the age old parallel between "higher age" or "rising students" and being on higher (more valuable?) land. At any rate, Camp Mystic already had housing that survived this flash flood, and the older girls are all safe, to my knowledge.

It's so sad. All they needed to do was heed the warning and move everyone to the higher cabins. They must have thought it didn't apply to them or that they'd "wait and see." The middle ground, of course, would have been to move everyone up away from the creek and abandon the historic cabins to their fate. Someone still needed to keep watch though. Those higher elevation cabins also had access to roads and rescue and even higher ground. They should have had all their cars parked out on those higher roads if they were going to be guessing and watching.

There's a large area up above and behind the camp that's completely away from the creek. Creeks and barrancas are narrower and therefore more likely to overflow their banks, as happened here. That creek basically became a river.

IMO.

Also, states that are at risk of large tsunamis have loud warning sirens and tsunami evacuation plans with regular drills.

These occur in Hawaii, as well as coastal Washington, Oregon, and northern California regions.

Surely, there could be better audible notification for flash floods.

I would think that the large number of children's camps in this region should also have regular camper drills for floods and wildfires, just as other institutions have regular fire or hazardous materials drills.

Yep. We even have the occasional Tsunami drill here in SoCal (my workplace is a designated refuge for tsunamis of up to a certain magnitude and then we have ones more inland). The whole goal is to get up and away. There surely could have been audible alarms for this flash flood - although I bet it was moving faster than a Tsunami. Still, once the water started to pile up, some sensor should triggered those sirens throughout the region. That would be a good first step - and the sensors would have done most of the work.

I was just clicking on all those local camps and there are so many kids out there in summer camps next to creeks prone to flooding, is mind-boggling to me. Still, people to continue to build houses in CA in very fire prone areas, so, people are not always Safety First. I think many of us WSers are quite cautious. Every time I spend time here, I'm a little more circumspect.

 

[Sillybilly]

Hey everyone,

Please remember that all images and information stated as fact MUST have an appropriate link to the source. Posts that don't have appropriate links (MSM, LE, approved sources) will be removed, along with all responses to them.

It is a violation of Websleuths rules not to provide links. Please read The Rules and post accordingly.

Thank you.

 

[Corina]

Same. My 11-year-old is at camp in Colorado right now and I can’t stop crying. She was actually born days after we similar historic flooding here in CO in 2013. It’s hard enough to have your baby away for three weeks and only be able to be in touch with them through letters. My heart is just shattered for these parents.

From thousands of miles and an ocean away - thinking of my own DDs and the happiness they had at camps years ago, and my heart aches for those caught up in this tragedy.

 

[allgoaton]

The map to the camp is linked HERE: https://www.campmystic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2017-Brochure-Online-Update-2022.pdf

I edited it myself to include labels but I guess ya'll are gonna have to squint since OG source images are required.

I mistakenly posted info without sources to back it up currently looking for sources to confirm my data.

This is a pin dropped to the camp in Bing (I find bing maps better) Bing Maps

The pin is dropped to the main office of the camp. The main offices, the rec hall, and the Harrison dining hall make a triangle of the main buildings.

Luckily NY Times has also attempted to recreate the overview image: A Close Look at Camp Mystic
"Several girls who are reported missing were in the low-lying cabins on the “Flats,” where junior and intermediate campers live, less than 500 feet from the river bank." However you can also clearly see that the water must have risen tremendously above the river to have reached those spots.

I apologise for posting some hearsay previously. There are family members of children posting on other stories I am following but I will no longer provide any info not backed up by a mainstream source.

 

[mickey2942]

This is horrifying. I was in San Antonio a few weeks ago for a work event when it was hit with flash floods. It rained like crazy and seems like the area is quite unsuited for that much water. I was the few lucky ones in our group whose plane wasn't delayed. Some were stranded at the airport for over 16 hours.

Monsoon season. Camping and living by a river is nice. Until it isn't. I am surprised that a flash flood warning did not go out sooner.

 

[sds71]

The flash flooding on the Guadalupe River in Central Texas has killed at least 35 people, including 14 children. Some two dozen girls from Camp Mystic, an all-girls’ Christian summer camp, are still missing.

More Than 50 Dead in Texas Floods as Search for Missing Grows Dire

At least 15 children were among those killed by flooding in Central Texas. Some two dozen girls from a camp on the Guadalupe River remained unaccounted for.

www.nytimes.com

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Four girls recovered - RS (8), SM (8), JH (9), LB (9)

Texas officials refused to confirm the identities of the dead or missing, saying they were protecting the privacy of the grieving families, but the family of Mystic’s director, Dick Eastland, confirmed he heroically died while trying to save the young girls from the storm.

Eastland raced to one of the camp’s 23 cabins when the floodwater swept it away early Friday morning, [link removed: crypto-scam] reported.

Death toll in catastrophic Texas flooding rises to 51, including 15 children and 28 adults, officials say

15 children and 28 adults are among the dead.

nypost.com

ETA - More about Richard “Dick” Eastland

Body recovered of Texas camp director who died heroically trying to save kids: ‘Father figure to all of us’

Camp Mystic owner Richard “Dick” Eastland has been confirmed dead, attempting to heroically rescue some of his campers before they were swept away in the deadly Texas floodwaters.

nypost.com

 

[legomonster]

I don’t know how to delete previous message but here is what I used on creating this image. I apologize for being so difficult. If anyone ever has any weather related questions or help explaining watches/warnings because they don't teach even basic lightning safety in schools unfortunately, lmk!

Kerr County, Texas

NWS Flash Flood Warning