HUNT, TEXAS — The Texas Hill Country remains in crisis as emergency crews continue an intense search and rescue operation following catastrophic flash flooding that swept through Camp Mystic, a historic all-girls Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County.
In the early morning hours of July 4, more than 22 feet of floodwaters surged through the area in just 30 minutes, tearing through cabins and displacing dozens of campers and staff in what officials are calling a mass casualty event.
Multiple individuals remain missing, with families confirming the names of several girls and camp counselors who have not yet been located. The flooding came with little warning, triggered by intense overnight storms that dumped more than 15 inches of rain across the region.
Confirmed Missing Individuals:
- Lila Bonner
- Eloise Peck
- Hadley Hanna
- Kellyanne Lytal
- Lainey Landry
- Janie Hunt
- Renee Smajstrla
- Cile Steward
- Virginia Hollis
- Margaret Sheedy
- Molly DeWitt
- Anna Margaret Bellows
- Blakely McCrory
- Mary Grace Baker
- Linnie McCown
- Greta Toranzo
- Sarah Marsh
- Wynne Naylor
- Katherine Ferruzzo (Camp Counselor)
- Bella Kate (Camp Counselor)
Camp Director Narrowly Escapes Tragedy
Amid the chaos, Camp Mystic Director Dick Eastland—widely known in the camp community and married to co-director “Tweety” Eastland—acted quickly to prevent further disaster. Concerned that the Bubble Inn cabin would flood, Eastland reportedly drove down to evacuate campers. In the process, he and five girls were swept away by the powerful current. Miraculously, they were found alive and safe approximately five miles downriver in Hunt, Texas.
Search and rescue operations include hundreds of personnel, boats, drones, and helicopters working across flooded terrain and debris-filled waters. Families are gathered in Kerr County, many anxiously awaiting updates as recovery teams comb the riverbanks.
Ongoing Effort
Authorities have confirmed at least 24 fatalities so far in the wider Hill Country region due to the flooding, with the toll expected to rise. The Guadalupe River remains dangerous and unstable, complicating search efforts.
This heartbreaking event has shaken the Camp Mystic community and the broader Texas Hill Country, drawing support and prayers from across the nation.
