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KERRVILLE, Texas — A catastrophic flash flood tore through Texas Hill Country overnight, leaving at least 13 people dead and dozens more missing, including nearly two dozen girls attending a summer camp, officials confirmed Friday. Torrential rains — over 10 inches in some areas — sent the Guadalupe River surging with deadly force, transforming a tranquil vacation spot into a zone of chaos and destruction.
Search and rescue operations continued at daybreak, with helicopters hovering above submerged towns, boats combing through debris, and drones scanning the waterlogged landscape for survivors. Authorities say the number of confirmed dead may rise, as at least 20 people remain unaccounted for.
River Rises, Warnings Fall Short
The flash flooding was triggered by a fierce overnight downpour in Kerr County. At the forks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, a river gauge recorded a staggering 22-foot rise within two hours before failing — the water having surged to over 29 feet.
Meteorologist Bob Fogarty from the National Weather Service warned that floodwaters moved with such speed and force that “you don’t recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you.”
Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, confirmed that the identities of many victims remained unknown. “Most of them, we don’t know who they are,” he said.
Campers Among the Missing
At least 23 girls from Camp Mystic — one of the oldest and most popular summer camps in the region — were reported missing, according to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The camp was among dozens of properties affected by the overnight flooding.
Families waited anxiously at reunification centers, cheering and weeping as evacuees arrived. In one emotional moment, a girl in a Camp Mystic shirt collapsed into her mother’s arms, her socks soaked from standing in a puddle.
‘A Pitch Black Wall of Death’
Residents described the flood as fast and merciless. In Ingram, Erin Burgess clung to a tree for an hour with her 19-year-old son after their home filled with water. “Thankfully, he’s over 6 feet tall,” she said. “That’s the only thing that saved me.”
Matthew Stone of Kerrville recalled the terrifying moment floodwaters arrived. “We got no emergency alert. There was nothing,” he said. “Then — a pitch black wall of death.”
Despite the region being under a flood watch, Kerr County had no active emergency alert system. “We have floods all the time,” Judge Kelly admitted. “But no one knew this kind of flood was coming.”
A Region Known for Flood Risk
The Texas Hill Country — often dubbed “flash flood alley” — is notoriously vulnerable due to its hilly terrain and thin soil layer. When it rains, water doesn’t absorb — it races downhill, overwhelming rivers and low-lying areas.
“This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States,” Kelly said bluntly.
Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, said the floods have upended a region known more for peaceful riverside retreats than disaster. “It’s generally a very tranquil river,” he said. “That serenity has been shattered.”
Storms Strike Elsewhere
The disaster in Texas came as storms also ravaged central New Jersey, where three deaths were reported, including two men killed by a falling tree in Plainfield. The city later canceled all Independence Day celebrations.
Ongoing Rescue Efforts
At least 400 responders are on the ground in Kerr County, supported by nine rescue teams, 14 helicopters, and 12 drones. Some rescues have occurred from trees, rooftops, and riverbanks.
“We’re doing whatever we can do to find everyone we can,” said Patrick. But with rising waters and scattered debris, time remains the greatest enemy.
As Texas faces what officials call one of the worst floods in state history, families and responders alike are clinging to hope — and praying for miracles along the Guadalupe.
