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

[iamshadow21]

Do you have?

The remaining Santana family:
Ileana Santana 66
Mila Santana 5

Alabama woman, 5-year-old granddaughter found dead after Texas floods

“Our family can now finally lay EVERYONE TO REST TOGETHER!" wrote Ileana’s daughter Jaimee Santana.

www.al.com

Virginia Hollis,8 Camp Mystic

8-year-old flood victim's horse follows hearse in heartbreaking procession

An entire Texas town lined the streets wearing green today for one heartbreaking reason.

www.khou.com

Yes, they were in the latest version of the list posted. Thank you.

 

[IceIce9]

After the July 4 floods, Texas lawyers are swarming. Do they have a case?

No flood-related lawsuits are known to have been filed.
According to one attorney, construction and operation of camps in flood zones is allowed by state and local officials
Lawyers have varying opinions

How Texas' land rules allowed camps to operate in flood-prone areas

The deadly Texas floods have brought the state's approach to land approvals, especially in flood-prone areas, under more scrutiny.

abcnews.go.com

Gates said there is "very little oversight" in the state for building or establishing any type of campground.

Everything is left up to insurance companies. (I guess it means you won't want to build if you don't have insurance? However, I don't think insurance is required in Texas)

The state health department, which licenses youth camps, does not address the risks associated with flood zones and other extreme weather for summer camps, according to state regulations.

Camps are only inspected for fire, health, or safety hazards. (So that is why Camp Mystic passed it's state inspection)

That’s so Texas.

"In general, Texas is a state that highly values personal property rights and because of that, it is a state that is slow to change their policies to flooding," Shannon Van Zandt, a senior fellow with Texas A&M's Hazard Reduction and Recovery center, told ABC News.

 

[Friday Fan]

Death Toll in Kerr County (Guadalupe River) is now 116


State Death Toll is 135

Kerr County latest: Death toll rises to 116 nearly two weeks after devastating floods

More than 2,000 first responders and countless more volunteers continue to search for the missing in Kerr County nearly two weeks after the Guadalupe River rose.

www.kens5.com

 

[AngTxGal]

That’s so Texas.

"In general, Texas is a state that highly values personal property rights and because of that, it is a state that is slow to change their policies to flooding," Shannon Van Zandt, a senior fellow with Texas A&M's Hazard Reduction and Recovery center, told ABC News.

Yup, that is pretty much what I expected. Texas is 95% or so private land- land that has been families for generations. Preserving traditions is important.
But patrons can vote with their pocketbooks instead of sue, this can promote change.
So many children losing their lives will not go unnoticed, people will expect warnings, a plan, and expect change.

IMO

 

[NottaYutz]

"The girls, 8-year-old twins, were at Camp Mystic when devastating floods hit. [The parents] John Lawrence is a partner at Baker Botts and Lacy Lawrence is a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. (Full article behind paywall)

2 Daughters of Dallas Big Law Partners Among Texas Flood Victims | Law.com

The twin 8-year-old girls were at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, when the deadly flash flood struck over the holiday weekend.

www.law.com

I just checked this and it is now a dead link. Wasn't before.

Found the same people mentioned in this article.

Twin daughters of BigLaw couple among Texas flood victims; 'we are devastated,' family says

Two of the children who died in the floods that swept through Central Texas over the Independence Day weekend were the twin daughters of two BigLaw partners in Dallas.

www.abajournal.com

 

[knla]

This is what the county southeast of Kerr County did to warn people of flood.

Kendall County had sirens and their emergency operations center ready ahead of the July Fourth floods

Kendall County leaders can explain exactly what they were doing ahead of the flood to keep people safe. Warning sirens were just a part of it.

www.kens5.com

 

[knla]

Kerr County man searches for flood victims after 9 bodies found on his land on the Guadalupe River

The flood on July Fourth completely leveled Mike Richards' cabin on the Guadalupe River. But these days, he's not worried about his cabin.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[knla]

Belville, Texas funeral procession for Virginia Hollis, resident of Twins Cabin, Camp Mystic. Her grandfather led her horse behind the hearse.

 

[Betty P]

Kerr County man searches for flood victims after 9 bodies found on his land on the Guadalupe River

The flood on July Fourth completely leveled Mike Richards' cabin on the Guadalupe River. But these days, he's not worried about his cabin.

www.cbsnews.com

How sad that there aren’t enough people left to conduct the search for victims. Property owners have to continue searching their own land.

 

[Friday Fan]

How sad that there aren’t enough people left to conduct the search for victims. Property owners have to continue searching their own land.

State Rep. Josey Garcia leads grassroots flood relief effort in Hill Country

Josey's a go-getter. At first they said they only wanted law enforcement, but Josey (she's retired military and served in Iraq) went up there.

I was in her zoom the other night.
She's discussing their needs etc. I'm proud of Team Josey.
___________________

There are rescue groups from Mexico, Minnesota, Missouri, Cajun Navy (Louisiana) and even Czech Republic!

 

[K9Enzo]

Belville, Texas funeral procession for Virginia Hollis, resident of Twins Cabin, Camp Mystic. Her grandfather led her horse behind the hearse.

Aww, loved ones called her Ginny. Her heartbroken PaPa riding her horse with her little pink boots in the stirrups gutted me.

 

[Quill]

I thought some here might appreciate this. SEC football media days have been ongoing this week.

"This is more important than football," Taaffe continued. "I wanted everyone around the country to know what Texas is dealing with and how I can give back and show my support to them. Anything I can do for them, I'm going to do it."

Texas safety Michael Taaffe honors Camp Mystic flood victims at SEC Media Days with tribute tie

Taaffe wore a burnt orange tie stitched with the initials of the 27 victims

www.cbssports.com

 

[AngTxGal]

Today’s press conference 20 min +
Natural resource experts press conference regarding Hill Country floods

Interesting, will promote conversations as to what actions to take next- Major topics discussed
Recommend not building/ rebuilding in 100 year flood plain
Property right state
Enforce existing laws/ policies, ordinances
Expanding flood plains, FEMA maps changing
More extreme events
Floods will happen, not if but when
Why policies not adopted in the past? resistance to regulate

I don’t see Texans agreeing that no one can build with the 100 year flood plain. This decision would put the cost and loss on the land owners who wouldn’t be able to sell or use land many have owned for generations.

I think people will want a compromise between land owners and services paid for by tax dollars.
- fund warning systems, digital, sirens, sensors, evacuation plans
- maybe require buildings in 100 yr flood plain to be lifted
- exit roads and bridges lifted

It will be interesting how this plays out, as it is important to not blame the victims, to promote awareness and prevention, and support those suffering loss.
IMO
The death toll is still rising, heartbroken

 

[Friday Fan]

Today’s press conference 20 min +
Natural resource experts press conference regarding Hill Country floods

Interesting, will promote conversations as to what actions to take next- Major topics discussed
Recommend not building/ rebuilding in 100 year flood plain
Property right state
Enforce existing laws/ policies, ordinances
Expanding flood plains, FEMA maps changing
More extreme events
Floods will happen, not if but when
Why policies not adopted in the past? resistance to regulate

I don’t see Texans agreeing that no one can build with the 100 year flood plain. This decision would put the cost and loss on the land owners who wouldn’t be able to sell or use land many have owned for generations.

I think people will want a compromise between land owners and services paid for by tax dollars.
- fund warning systems, digital, sirens, sensors, evacuation plans
- maybe require buildings in 100 yr flood plain to be lifted
- exit roads and bridges lifted

It will be interesting how this plays out, as it is important to not blame the victims, to promote awareness and prevention, and support those suffering loss.
IMO
The death toll is still rising, heartbroken

I've been looking at the Kerr County deaths: It appears there were only about five in City of Kerrville! One family's home was swept away, killing four. The other was a vehicular death.

Kerrville got the warning and law enforcement started knocking on doors to get people out.

So many deaths were at the HTR RV camp and Casa Bonita. At Blue Oak RV Camp, which is next to HTR, the owner was onsight. She got up and started waking everyone up. She only had five deaths at her RV camp. HTR is unfortunately, is remotely owned. 46 people died or are missing from RV camps.

 

[vls12345]

'They're not alone' | Artist who created Uvalde, Quintana Road memorials builds one for Kerr County flood victims

❤️🙏🏼Roberto Marquez crafts a moving memorial for Hill Country flood victims, uniting the community in solidarity and healing.

www.kens5.com

 

[mickey2942]

I guess what I still have not been able to figure out, with the loss of life in Texas, is how this happened, and no one knew or was worried about rain, flooding. I have lived places where there are flash floods, but it seems to me, that we had a warning on the news, we "knew" that there were warnings, and alerts, even before the internet.

Yesterday, I received a "flash flood" alert on my phone, it was a very loud piercing sound.

Weather warnings on the go!

Why didn't that happen in Texas?

 

[Betty P]

I guess what I still have not been able to figure out, with the loss of life in Texas, is how this happened, and no one knew or was worried about rain, flooding. I have lived places where there are flash floods, but it seems to me, that we had a warning on the news, we "knew" that there were warnings, and alerts, even before the internet.

Yesterday, I received a "flash flood" alert on my phone, it was a very loud piercing sound.

Weather warnings on the go!

Why didn't that happen in Texas?

At least one of the counties turned down millions in federal ARPA funding to pay for a flood alert system a couple of years ago.

https://legacy.co.kerr.tx.us/commcrt/minutes/2022/042522(CC).txt

 

[Friday Fan]

I guess what I still have not been able to figure out, with the loss of life in Texas, is how this happened, and no one knew or was worried about rain, flooding. I have lived places where there are flash floods, but it seems to me, that we had a warning on the news, we "knew" that there were warnings, and alerts, even before the internet.

Yesterday, I received a "flash flood" alert on my phone, it was a very loud piercing sound.

Weather warnings on the go!

Why didn't that happen in Texas?

Long story:

The warnings were only heard in western Kerr County.
Western Kerr County consists of Ingram, Hunt and is mostly unincorporated.
The county seat is in Kerrville, where they have most of the government.
Once you pass the Hunt Store there is no cell service.
West of the Hunt Store is pretty much considered the boondocks...vacation area where people go to "get away from civilization".
There wasn't cell service out in the camp areas unless you have wifi or satellite cell service.
Flash floods are extremely common.
We get them almost every time it rains. So, in San Antonio, we get several a year.
About 1 inch of rain will give you a flash flood warning.
It usually means "Don't drive in low lying areas".
Property damage (hence loss of life in a cabin, RV or home) is fairly rare during most flash floods around here.
Rivers rarely overflow their banks during flash floods.
It's usually creeks and drainage areas that are dangerous during flash floods.

 

[Knox]

When nearby counties installed flood sirens, Kerr County did not. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick now says state could do it.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told CBS News Monday that the state of Texas could pay for storm sirens along the Guadalupe River.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Betty P]

When nearby counties installed flood sirens, Kerr County did not. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick now says state could do it.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told CBS News Monday that the state of Texas could pay for storm sirens along the Guadalupe River.

www.cbsnews.com

Another article on the county’s refusal of $10 million in ARPA funds that could have been used on sirens and other emergency warning systems.

Here's what happened in Kerr County meeting now under flood scrutiny

Kerr County once debated federal aid, funds later used to respond to 2025 flooding.

www.nbcdfw.com

They ended up taking the money, but spent it on new police vehicles

Here's what happened in Kerr County meeting now under flood scrutiny

Kerr County once debated federal aid, funds later used to respond to 2025 flooding.

www.nbcdfw.com