13 Dead, Dozens of Campers Missing Amid ‘Catastrophic Flooding’ in Texas

A quiet summer night turned into a full-blown catastrophe as a deadly wall of water ripped through the Texas Hill Country — killing at least 13 people and leaving 23 children feared missing from a popular summer camp.

Entire cabins were swallowed. Vehicles were hurled like toys. Screams echoed through the darkness as families scrambled for their lives in Kerr County, about 60 miles north of San Antonio.

“This is worse than a nightmare,” said Acting Governor Dan Patrick, who choked up during a news briefing. “There are children unaccounted for. We don’t know if they’re clinging to trees, trapped in debris, or worse.”

Camp Mystic — an elite all-girls camp along the Guadalupe River — was slammed by the flooding after a monster storm dumped a staggering 12 inches of rain overnight. Officials say 23 of the camp’s 750 girls are still missing.

A frantic letter sent to parents by the camp tried to calm nerves, saying families had already been notified if their daughters were missing. But that’s done little to ease the panic.

“My daughter is out there, and I can’t reach anyone,” said one distraught father outside the Kerr County Emergency Center. “I don’t know if she’s alive.”

Heart-stopping video from the site shows campers wading through rising water, staff shouting orders, and cabins breaking apart. In one clip, a child clings to a post while rushing floodwaters tear away furniture and gear behind her.

Officials say the Guadalupe River exploded 26 feet in just 45 minutes — swallowing campgrounds, roads, and homes. It’s one of the fastest rises ever recorded in the state’s history, according to the National Weather Service.

“This hit while people were sleeping in their beds,” said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, his voice breaking. “There was no warning. Just water. Everywhere.”

Lt. Gov. Patrick, now acting as governor while the state’s top executive is abroad, declared the event a “major emergency” and activated search-and-rescue teams statewide.

Dozens of rescues have already taken place — many by boat and helicopter — but treacherous conditions are slowing the search.

Katie M., a camper from Austin, shared her terrifying escape exclusively via Instagram:

“At 2 a.m. we got a flood alert but didn’t panic. At 5:30 a.m., someone was pounding on our RV door yelling, ‘Get out NOW!’ The river had reached our tires. We threw the kids in the truck and drove away with water chasing us. It was like a scene from a disaster movie.”

“We heard trees snapping. Debris smashing into cars. We left everything behind. Just ran. We’re safe… but so many aren’t.”

Lt. Gov. Patrick offered a grim update: “Just because these 23 girls are missing doesn’t mean they’re dead. But let’s be honest — we’re racing against time.”

Authorities believe some children may have fled uphill, lost phones, or are trapped in areas with no signal. But others may have been swept away in the torrent.

With more rain possible, officials are begging residents to stay off roads, evacuate low-lying areas, and stay alert.

“We are in crisis mode,” said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly. “And we may not know the full toll of this tragedy for days.”

President Trump issued a statement vowing federal assistance and FEMA support, calling the disaster “absolutely devastating.”

“Our hearts break for these families,” he said. “America stands with Texas.”