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

[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?

Another thing:

The flooding started at the headwaters, which is another word for "backwaters". That's where Camp Mystic is.


The river is very windy and very small. It's like a creek. You can't build tall bridges over it becaue it's so small that a small, tall bridge would collapse. So the bridges are basically at water level. It really is essentially an idyllic creek lazy creek. It's surrounded by towering bald cypress.

You have to cross the river ever 1/4 mile or so back there because the river is so windy.

One research biologist noted: "If this place floods, how do I get out of here?"

And that's the truth! Once it starts to rain, you are stuck. If you are in Kerrville buying groceries, you don't return home until the rain stops.

I have PTSD over this whole thing. We go there on the 4th of July, along with our kids and grand kids. We rent cabins, air bnb whatever. We didn't go this year.

Evacuating means, "Run to higher ground". Climb a hill, climb a cliff and stand there and wait in the rain. However, our grandkids probably couldn't have handled those cliffs.,

 

[AngTxGal]

We drove to and from CO recently.
We were without service most of the time.

Yes, and I live 40 min outside DFW and commute to the city for work- have for over 20 years.
There is a 5-10 mile dead zone without cell service, calls in progress drop. No new calls.
It is on the interstate highway that is full of traffic

So even in the suburbs of one of the largest metroplexes in the country- there are cell dead zones.

IMO

 

[Sundog]

Beautiful article about Jane Ragsdale.

Woman Who Lived for Her Summer Camp Was Found Dead at Home on the Property After Texas Floods. How Her Legacy Will Live On

When Texas floodwaters hit Heart o’ the Hills summer camp on July 4, camp owner and director Jane Ragsdale got trapped inside her home on the property. After her death, loved ones say the camp will continue to be shaped by an informal camp slogan: “What would Jane do?”

people.com

That's two legends in Texas' youth camp family gone now, Jane Ragsdale and Dick Eastland. May they rest in peace.

 

[IceIce9]

I just saw a new story about a woman who was denied a building permit to have 3 homes constructed in a a 100 year flood plain. She owns 37 acres in a flood plain and says since she owns the property no one should be able to tell her she can’t build there.

 

[Friday Fan]

I just saw a new story about a woman who was denied a building permit to have 3 homes constructed in a a 100 year flood plain. She owns 37 acres in a flood plain and says since she owns the property no one should be able to tell her she can’t build there.

In Kerr County?

Somewhere in Texas?

Somewhere in Texas where there was flooding July 3-5?

This flood region is vast and even includes the City of Austin, hence certain counties can implement their own codes.

 

[Friday Fan]

One source said 107 died in Kerr County Floods, another source said 116>

116 likely did. Nine bodies were found in adjacent Kendall County.

I was in Colorado when all this drama happened and thought the deaths in Kendall were due to local rain events. (Creek flooding etc)

But it turns out they were found in the Guadalupe River which is in northern Kendall County. Press release stated that none of the victims were residents of Kendall County. This implies that they were swept down the river from Kerr County. The town of Comfort sits on County line and has been a source of searches. By 6:30 am on July 4th, the river had arrived in Kendall County. The Guadalupe River crosses right under I-10, denoted in blue

https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/map-where-have-flash-flooding-fatalities-been-confirmed-in-texas/

Headline:

None of the flooding victims found in Kendall County thus far are county residents​

Kendall county death toll stands at 7 following flooding; press conference TBA

We’re The Boerne Star! Local yesterday, today and tomorrow. Your resource for news and information

www.boernestar.com

 

[AngTxGal]

I just saw a new story about a woman who was denied a building permit to have 3 homes constructed in a a 100 year flood plain. She owns 37 acres in a flood plain and says since she owns the property no one should be able to tell her she can’t build there.

In order to know if this is illegal, legal but shouldn’t be, or simply poor judgment, or her absolute right- you would have to have a lot more information.
There is not a single answer for all scenarios- it depends.

People may assume that buildings in the 100 year flood plain shouldn’t be there.
The land along the rivers across the country isn’t vacant.
Historically people build near water- transportation, energy, food, trade, logging etc. Many of our major cities in the country developed along rivers.
In Texas there are 25 or so Spanish missions- all of them are built on rivers. Likely all of them have flooded and been rebuilt many times since the late 1600’s.
At some point did this become illegal due to fear of flooding? Those cities are still there.

Rio Grande River, Yukon River, Colorado River, Mississippi River, Missouri River, Hudson River, Arkansas River
There are 10s of thousands of miles of river, and there are banks on both sides.
Zoning laws, limitations, insurance, state, county, city, river authority- all of that is different depending on where you are. Many entities govern that land, so it is pretty complex.

A private home in that area is very different than an overnight camp for children.
Parents of those children should be able to assume that their children are in a place that is safe from such events as much as is possible- and they were not.

It is an interesting and complicated question, not a one size fits all answer.
IMO

 

[Friday Fan]

Gov. Greg Abbott said the body of a missing woman was found Tuesday, leaving only two people unaccounted for after the July 4 floods​

Only 2 remain missing from Hill Country floods, including a girl from Camp Mystic, Gov. Abbott says

Only one girl from Camp Mystic and one adult male remain missing more than two weeks after the deadly Hill Country floods, Gov. Greg Abbott said on social media Tuesday.

www.ksat.com

A girl from Camp Mystic and an adult male are still missing. Names not given. The girl would be Cile Steward.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1947856720165769500

I assume he's talking about Kerr County and not Travis/Burnet Counties.

 

[knla]

Armies of Texas volunteers dig out, clean up, after fatal floods

Armies of Texan volunteers are leading flood recovery and cleanup, supplementing official efforts even as more flooding hits and the search for the missing continues.

apnews.com

 

[ForensicToxicologist]

Gov. Greg Abbott said the body of a missing woman was found Tuesday, leaving only two people unaccounted for after the July 4 floods​

Only 2 remain missing from Hill Country floods, including a girl from Camp Mystic, Gov. Abbott says

Only one girl from Camp Mystic and one adult male remain missing more than two weeks after the deadly Hill Country floods, Gov. Greg Abbott said on social media Tuesday.

www.ksat.com

A girl from Camp Mystic and an adult male are still missing. Names not given. The girl would be Cile Steward.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1947856720165769500

I assume he's talking about Kerr County and not Travis/Burnet Counties.

Would the male be Jeff Ramsey? Or has he been found? It seems he was misidentified early on and it turned out to be someone else. The story about him leaving voicemails for his kids was heartbreaking

 

[Friday Fan]

Would the male be Jeff Ramsey? Or has he been found? It seems he was misidentified early on and it turned out to be someone else. The story about him leaving voicemails for his kids was heartbreaking

Yes, it appears that way.

I read this heartbreaking story in the Kerr Lead.

Fortunately, a city park in Kerrville was cleared out before the heavy rains! The city parks administrator was up and saw bad weather on the way and had the park cleared. Many lives were saved.

That's pretty routine around here. Bad weather - get out. Down pour coming- get out. Our parks always close in San Antonio because 90% of them are in flood plains. And it seems that way in the Hill Country too. Unfortunately, it didn't happen at the private parks in the case. I don't know why.

I saw people on FB, "There have got to be homeless missing". My hunch is they were probably at the park that was cleared out, so their lives were saved.

I think the large number of reported missing that were found safe were likely at the city park that had been evacuated before the weather got bad.

United in grief, United in Recovery: The story of July 4, 2025 – The Kerr County Lead

On July 4, 2025, that turn onto Cully Drive featured a sight that no one will ever forget — a roiling angry river that stretched from its northern bank to Thompson Drive. On a normal day, the river might stretch 100 feet across, but on this day it was nearly 900 feet wide. In one hour...

kerrcountylead.com

 

[iamshadow21]

Gov. Greg Abbott said the body of a missing woman was found Tuesday, leaving only two people unaccounted for after the July 4 floods​

Only 2 remain missing from Hill Country floods, including a girl from Camp Mystic, Gov. Abbott says

Only one girl from Camp Mystic and one adult male remain missing more than two weeks after the deadly Hill Country floods, Gov. Greg Abbott said on social media Tuesday.

www.ksat.com

A girl from Camp Mystic and an adult male are still missing. Names not given. The girl would be Cile Steward.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1947856720165769500

I assume he's talking about Kerr County and not Travis/Burnet Counties.

It looks like the body found might be Josephine.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/kerrville-kerr-flooding-body-found-20781885.php

 

[Chimera]

If that girls' camp is sued by the parents of the deceased children; one can hardly blame them.
It's not a frivolous lawsuit either.
The parents or caregivers had every right to expect that the kids would be protected.
Imo.

 

[Sundog]

If that girls' camp is sued by the parents of the deceased children; one can hardly blame them.
It's not a frivolous lawsuit either.
The parents or caregivers had every right to expect that the kids would be protected.
Imo.

There are likely to be lots of lawsuits as a result of the flooding. The families of all the RV owners who perished as their vehicles were swept away, etc. I don't know how these lawsuits will be handled in Texas, civil lawsuits can vary from state to state, and not sure about acts of nature like rare floods, tornadoes, etc.

Also not sure how many camps there were that had losses of life, I only remember about three that I have read about, but I am sure there are more, plus other venues like RV sites, etc.

 

[iamshadow21]

This post by Fox San Antonio anchor Ryan Wolf says that Cile Steward, Michael Phillips, and Jeff Ramsey remain missing.

https://www.facebook.com/100044302902588/posts/pfbid02zgpUKk6f8ynoJGyXQwvBPydyHHTM6kjjT2JuQbNwR2gkyC2pNiShraXynj9zY4NCl

Cajun Navy's Instagram states that Felicity Jarmon was found.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Gary Traugott was found and identified.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/tcso-identifies-man-found-under-big-sandy-bridge-following-fatal-flooding-event/

Harley Moeller was found and identified.

https://www.facebook.com/100045143271330/posts/pfbid0tXhk2F1noX6XLT37YbCHLAYkQX3XBxk4F9c2puBSUn5NoLLbLJ4k5mQce3YoYvS1l

Just over a week ago, Kerr County was saying Ty Mabey and Baldomero Ramirez were two of three still missing.

Kerrville officials confirm 3 people still missing From July 4 flood – The Kerr County Lead

Police say extensive verification process reduced hundreds of initial reports to three confirmed cases

kerrcountylead.com

 

[Friday Fan]

This post by Fox San Antonio anchor Ryan Wolf says that Cile Steward, Michael Phillips, and Jeff Ramsey remain missing.

https://www.facebook.com/100044302902588/posts/pfbid02zgpUKk6f8ynoJGyXQwvBPydyHHTM6kjjT2JuQbNwR2gkyC2pNiShraXynj9zY4NCl

Cajun Navy's Instagram states that Felicity Jarmon was found.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Gary Traugott was found and identified.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/tcso-identifies-man-found-under-big-sandy-bridge-following-fatal-flooding-event/

Harley Moeller was found and identified.

https://www.facebook.com/100045143271330/posts/pfbid0tXhk2F1noX6XLT37YbCHLAYkQX3XBxk4F9c2puBSUn5NoLLbLJ4k5mQce3YoYvS1l

Just over a week ago, Kerr County was saying Ty Mabey and Baldomero Ramirez were two of three still missing.

Kerrville officials confirm 3 people still missing From July 4 flood – The Kerr County Lead

Police say extensive verification process reduced hundreds of initial reports to three confirmed cases

kerrcountylead.com

Nine victims that were swept away in Kerr County, were found in Kendall County. Legally, their deaths will be recorded as Kendall County deaths. ​

This means the death toll from Kerr County is actually 117.
Today's Kerr Lead lists 108 deaths in Kerr County. ​

---------

Some just are not publicly acknowledging deaths. ​

I found this on Ty Mabey. (From July 15th) ​

A service for Ty will be held on August 23​

North Texas Orthodontic Associates, P.A.​

We’ve been holding onto hope throughout the search efforts, and it’s with an extremely heavy heart that we now share the heartbreaking news: our cherished coworker, Tianna “Ty” Mabey, was among the victims of the devastating Texas floods on the Fourth of July.

Ty was more than just a valued assistant at NTOA. She was a beloved mother, dear friend and bright light in our lives. Her absence leaves an immeasurable void in our hearts and our community.

North Texas Orthodontic Associates, P.A.

We’ve been holding onto hope throughout the search efforts, and it’s with an extremely heavy heart that we now share the heartbreaking news: our cherished coworker, Tianna “Ty” Mabey, was among the...

www.facebook.com

To date, nine missing victims from upstream communities have been recovered within Kendall County," said Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarcyk.

No Kendall County residents lost their lives in the flood.

Flood cleanup efforts begin in Kendall County; Ragweed season approaches; Bexar County jail again found noncompliant

Also: Live events venue included in Project Marvel plans; The worst of measles outbreak behind us; Bexar County seeks input on $3 billion budget

www.tpr.org

Kerr County is not releasing names of the deceased. Kendall County is not releasing names of the deased. Kerr County is not releasing names of the missing.

____________________________________________________________________

It's much easier to keep track of missing and deceased in Burnet and Travis Counties.

Michael Phillips is still missing from Burnet County.
Rushing waters from Cow Creek swept Phillips and his vehicle away during a July 5 rescue effort.

Phillips has been a part of the Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years.


I'm glad that Gary Traugott was found, his family will now finally be able to hold services for the rest of his family. Their home swept away when Big Sandy Creek in Leander flooded.

 

[Friday Fan]

Lots of hearings on the floods are being held!
Local hearings.
State hearings.
One at the Texas Capitol was held on July 21st. Another is being held today.
I wish I had the time to watch the hearings.


Keep in mind, that the county governance mostly reside in Kerrville. Kerr County is responsible for the safety of residents in Hunt because Hunt is unincorporated.

As the floods hit, Kerrville officials’ messages show lack of information about what was coming

Lawmakers plan to hear testimony Thursday in Kerr County. Questions remain about how state and local entities responded to flood warnings.

www.texastribune.org

Plans for flood warning system floundered before Hill Country floods, witnesses tell legislative flood committee

Lawmakers serving on special committees investigating deadly floods blasted a river authority for failing to build a flood warning system on the Guadalupe River.

www.texastribune.org

Patrick takes a shot at Judge Kelly's absence on the first day of flood disaster – The Kerr County Lead

Representative Ann Johnson summarized the leadership crisis: "The three guys in Kerr County who were responsible for sounding the alarm were effectively unavailable" - referring to the sheriff (asleep), judge (at Lake Travis) and emergency management coordinator (sick).

kerrcountylead.com

Kerr County officials detail response to deadly July 4 flood – The Kerr County Lead

Kerr County officials testified Thursday about their response to a catastrophic July 4 flood that killed 108 people, including 37 children, during an

kerrcountylead.com

The Lead to livestream Texas flood hearing Thursday – The Kerr County Lead

The Lead will provide live coverage of Thursday's joint legislative hearing examining the emergency response to the July 4 flash flooding that killed at least 116 people in Kerr County.

kerrcountylead.com

A rural Texas county was missing some of its key leadership in the initial hours of flood

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — A rural Texas county was missing some of its key leadership in the initial hours of a catastrophic flood that came barreling through the

news4sanantonio.com

From a link in the WOAI article:
In contrast, Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk testified that his emergency management team began preparations the morning of July 3, paying special attention to campgrounds and RV parks near the Guadalupe River.
(Kendall County is adjacent and downstream to Kerr County)

MOO: This should have happened in Kerr County too! It happens around here. When San Antonio had our last flood, homeless camps were notified of impending conditions before it happened.


I found these survival stories compelling:

Texas summer camp near Camp Mystic had ‘no warning’ about rising waters but were able to safely evacuate 70 before deadly flooding: ‘Saw it coming’

“We were making our plans and changing our plans and moving people up to higher ground well in advance.”

nypost.com

Just drive over it, refers to rocks, not water! The story is compelling. They were lucky that the gate on Panther Creek Road was unlocked.

"Just drive over it," how one Hunt couple escaped the flood – The Kerr County Lead

Her home on the Guadalupe River along Highway 39, built on pillars about 36 feet above the normal river line, had weathered previous floods. Living "between Camp Mystic and River Inn," she considered her location at the headwaters relatively secure from the kind of flooding that had historically...

kerrcountylead.com

 

[iamshadow21]

‘Found on the Guadalupe River’: the woman reuniting lost mementoes with owners after Texas floods

Dondi Persyn has gathered, restored and returned thousands of items to those affected by the floods, each object a poignant reminder of loss

www.theguardian.com

 

[Serononin]

Jack Burgess and James Burgess have been found.

John, Julia, Jack & James Burgess Obituary July 4, 2025 - Schertz Funeral Home

View John, Julia, Jack & James Burgess's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

www.schertzfuneralhome.com

@iamshadow21

The Kerr County Flood Disaster Joint Information Center determined that three people are still missing from the floods, the city of Kerrville said in a news release. That is a sharp drop from the approximately 100 people authorities had previously said were unaccounted for.

Number missing from devastating Texas floods drops sharply to 3, officials say

Authorities determined that three people are still missing from the floods, a sharp drop from the approximately 100 people authorities had previously said were unaccounted for.

www.cbsnews.com

That entire obituary was heartbreaking, but the part about the dog guarding and comforting the surviving daughter really got me. And it's so tragic that Julia survived cancer only for this to happen!

 

[jennytrevor]

NYT gift article: County Emergency Official Says He Was Ill and Sleeping as Texas Floods Hit

It’s sad to see that a contributor to this disaster was lack of delegation of authority over the holiday. The emergency management coordinator in Kerr County was scheduled to be off on July 3rd, and a sickness caused him to be tuned out and sleeping throughout the following night. Why would his supervisor, the county judge, not have made sure to either cover his duties or find someone else to? The county judge himself was also out of town for the holiday weekend and he did not seem to find anyone to cover himself either.

I’m not surprised as I had expected the holiday weekend to have factored into the situation. Just sad to see it’s true. Imagine how different things could have been if SOMEONE was on top of this situation.