At Least 24 Dead, Dozens Missing After Guadalupe River Flooding Devastates Texas Hill Country and Camp Mystic

Onlookers survey damage along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas

At least 24 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more remain missing after catastrophic flash flooding swept through the Texas Hill Country early Friday, unleashing nearly a foot of rain and sending the Guadalupe River surging past its banks with deadly force. The flooding, which struck without full warning during the early hours of July 4th, devastated homes, swept away vehicles, and submerged parts of Kerr County, including the popular Camp Mystic summer camp.

Authorities reported over 237 rescues, including 167 by helicopter, as the fast-moving water tore through the region. Among the missing are between 23 and 25 girls attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp located along the river. Parents and loved ones posted desperate pleas online for updates on missing children as emergency crews continued overnight searches by air and ground.

Debris is left behind by a raging Guadalupe River, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas

Campers described a terrifying scene as the floodwaters struck in the middle of the night. Thirteen-year-old Elinor Lester said the storm woke her cabin around 1:30 a.m., and soon rescuers tied a rope across a bridge to guide them to safety as floodwaters surged around their legs. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary,” she said.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed the death toll during a Friday night news briefing. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at least 400 people were involved in the ongoing emergency response, with nine rescue teams, 14 helicopters, and 12 drones deployed. Some stranded residents were pulled from trees.

People are reunited at a reunification center after flash flooding hit the area, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Ingram, Texas

A river gauge in Hunt recorded a 22-foot rise in just two hours before it failed after reaching 29.5 feet. “The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you,” said Bob Fogarty of the National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio.

The flooding caught many off guard despite earlier forecasts. Officials had issued flood watches, but initial predictions only called for 3 to 6 inches of rain. “It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” said Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

In Ingram, Erin Burgess described waking at 3:30 a.m. to find water pouring into her home within 20 minutes. She and her 19-year-old son clung to a tree while her boyfriend and dog were swept away before being found. “Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him,” she said.

A man surveys debris along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood struck the area, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas

Others had even less warning. Matthew Stone of Kerrville said police knocked on doors around 5:30 a.m., but no emergency alerts were sent to phones. “We got no emergency alert. There was nothing. Then—a pitch black wall of death,” he recalled.

At a reunification center in Ingram, families wept and embraced loved ones arriving by rescue vehicles. A young girl in a Camp Mystic shirt sobbed in her mother’s arms. Barry Adelman, 54, described how his family—including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson—was forced into the attic as water rushed through his three-story home. “I was horrified,” he said. “I had to look my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death.”

Thomas Rux, a resident of Riverside RV Park, goes through the wreckage of his RV that was swept away by floodwaters in Ingram, Texas, on Friday, July 4, 2025.

Despite calls for answers, Kerr County officials defended their emergency response. Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said, “We do not have a warning system.” When pressed on why more was not done, he added: “Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming.”

The region, often called “flash flood alley,” is known for rapid water runoff due to its shallow soil layers. “When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. “It rushes down the hill.” The area’s river tourism economy, including historic summer camps like Camp Mystic, draws families from across the country.

What began as a night of celebration for Independence Day has become one of mourning for families across Texas and beyond, as rescue crews continue to search for those still missing.