Key Point Summary โ Youngest girls at Camp Mystic
- Five girls, ages 8 and 9, lost their lives
- Twelve campers still unaccounted for
- River surged 20 feet in 90 minutes
- Youngest girls slept 225 feet from river
- One mom says staff ignored flood warnings
- Camp owner also died during storm
- Death toll in Kerr County now at 59
Chaos Struck Before Dawn
Just after 4 a.m. on July 4, disaster tore through Camp Mystic. While 8- and 9-year-old girls slept in riverside cabins, the Guadalupe River rose fast and violently. Within 90 minutes, the water surged 20 feet past flood stage, swallowing everything in its path.
Rescuers later confirmed that five girls died in the floods. Twelve more remain missing.
The victims had barely any time to react. Their cabins sat just 225 feet from the river, according to reports. Sadly, this close proximity turned those cabins into death traps.
Older Girls Escaped From Higher Ground
Some campers had better luck. Thirteen-year-old Elinor Lester, who stayed in a cabin on higher ground, described the chaos.
โThe camp was completely destroyed. It was really scary,โ she said.
Elinor stayed in a section called Senior Hill, which sits over 600 feet from the river. That distance proved critical.
The five girls who diedโLila Bonner, Janie Hunt, Sarah Marsh, Eloise Peck, and Renee Smajstrlaโwere all in low-lying areas. The remaining missing girls had also been sleeping close to the water.
Families Furious Over Ignored Warnings
Now, grieving parents are demanding answers.
โThey should have been on top of it,โ said Serena Hanor Aldrich, who had two daughters at the camp. โThey were posting stuff yesterday morning,โ she said, referring to Thursdayโs early warnings about flash floods.
Aldrichโs 9-year-old daughter slept in one of the riverside cabins. She somehow managed to flee to a nearby building before it flooded. Along with others, she waited for rescue on higher ground.
โIt was terrifying,โ Aldrich added. โThey were up there for a couple of hours.โ
The Water Came Too Fast
The flood gauge upstream in Hunt, Texas, showed that water levels climbed from normal to major flooding between 4 and 5:30 a.m. Experts believe the flooding hit Camp Mystic even earlier.
Rainfall equivalent to an entire month fell in less than an hour. That rapid storm left little time for action. Campers barely had a chance to grab their belongings before water poured in.
At least 750 girls were attending Camp Mystic that week. Many stayed in historic riverside cabins the camp had used for over a century.
Camp Owner Among The Dead
The tragedy didnโt spare adults. The longtime owner of Camp Mystic, a Christian retreat with deep Texas roots, died in the flooding as well. The campโs legacy includes ties to former First Lady Laura Bush, who once worked there as a counselor.
Officials confirmed the overall death toll in Kerr County has reached 59. That includes 15 children. Authorities expect the number to rise.
This flood now ranks as the second-worst in local history, surpassing even the devastating 1987 floods.
Grief, Guilt, And Growing Outrage
Tributes for the girls poured in on social media. Parents shared last photos, prayer chains formed, and GoFundMe pages quickly launched. But beneath the sadness, a wave of outrage is rising.
Many wonder why the youngest campers were placed closest to the river. Others question the campโs emergency planningโor lack of it.
โThey couldโve moved them uphill,โ one angry parent posted on Facebook. โThere was time.โ
Families across Texas are calling for a full investigation. Lawsuits may follow, depending on what officials uncover.
The Search Continues
Rescue crews are still working nonstop. Boats, helicopters, and canine units comb the wreckage. Time is running out, but families cling to hope.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to call the Kerr County emergency hotline. Volunteers and donations are pouring in, but heartbreak lingers.
As the sun sets over the flood-ravaged land, Texas mourns five bright lives lost too soonโand braces for more grim news to come.
