Texas Flood: at Least 32 Dead As Search for Missing Campers Continue

On what should have been a festive Fourth of July, disaster struck in Central Texas.

Flash flooding left at least 32 dead in Kerr County, and about two dozen children are missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian camp for girls along the Guadalupe River.

At a press conference on Saturday with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Gov. Greg Abbott, and other Texas politicians, an emergency official said the 32 dead included 18 adults and 14 children.

During the press conference, Abbott signed a federal disaster declaration, which Noem said President Donald Trump would “honor.”

“I’ve visited with the president already about this federal disaster declaration that the governor was going to sign here this morning, and he has indicated that he will honor that and that he will accept that, so that response and that relief will be coming,” Noem said.

Abbott also issued a disaster declaration for six Texas counties in addition to the 15 he identified on Friday.

On Truth Social, Trump said his administration was working with state and local officials to respond to the flooding.

“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy,” Trump wrote on Saturday. “Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”

The X account for Elon Musk’s Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet system, is offering support to affected residents. Musk has a strong presence in Texas through his companies Tesla, X, and SpaceX.

“In support of those impacted by flooding in Texas, Starlink is providing Mini kits for search and rescue efforts — ensuring connectivity even in dead zones — and one month of free service for thousands of customers in the region, including those who paused service so they can reactivate Starlink during this time,” the post said.

Officials said as much as 12 inches of rain fell in the county on Friday, and additional rainfall is expected throughout the weekend. The National Weather Service first issued a flash flood warning at 4 a.m. on Friday.

A desperate search is underway for survivors. Officials did not say how many might still be missing outside of the group staying at Camp Mystic. Located in Hunt, the summer camp has about 750 campers.

“That does not mean they’ve been lost,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at a press conference Friday afternoon. “They could be in a tree. They could be out of communication. We’re praying for all those missing to be found alive.”

In a statement posted to its website, the Heart O’ the Hills, another girls’ camp based in Hunt, said its director, Jane Ragsdale, had died in the floods.

“We have received word that Jane Ragsdale did not make it,” it said. “We are mourning the loss of a woman who influenced countless lives and was the definition of strong and powerful.”

It added that the camp was not in session as the flooding hit, and that “most of those who were on camp at the time have been accounted for and are on high ground.”

Patrick said during the afternoon press conference that the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes.

On Facebook, parents and community members have circulated flyers with contact numbers, urging the public to help locate the missing children.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a press conference on Saturday morning that he expected the death toll to rise.

Kerr County has an estimated population of about 53,900, according to a 2024 counting by the US Census Bureau. The county sits in the Hill Country region of Central Texas, which includes cities like San Antonio and Austin. Beyond the Guadalupe River, the region is home to several others, including the Colorado, Concho, and Blanco Rivers.

With the county focused on locating the missing, several local cities have canceled Independence Day events.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.