Texas Flash Flood Catastrophe: 109 Dead, 161 Missing as Camp Mystic Tragedy Unfolds

A disastrous flash flood swept through Central Texas on July 4, killing at least 109 and leaving 161 missing, with Kerr County bearing the brunt of the attack. The Guadalupe River rose over 26 feet in under an hour, inundating homes, recreational vehicle parks, and summer camps in what officials are calling one of the deadliest inland floods in U.S. history.

Among the hardest hit was Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian girls' summer camp in Hunt, Texas. The camp reported 27 dead among the campers and counselors and five girls and one counselor missing. Survivors spoke of waking up to water rushing through cabins, some escaping through windows or clinging to trees.

Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster and vowed to continue searching and recovering "until every single missing person is accounted for." He also demanded a future legislative session to address the loopholes in the state's emergency alert systems, which were not received by numerous residents in a timely manner.

The disaster has reawakened criticism of Texas' flood readiness. An earlier $1 million request for a flood warning system in Kerr County was rejected about a decade ago. Now, with damages estimated at $22 billion, the state is coming under increasing pressure to make long-term changes.

Rescue teams, made up of volunteers and federal officials, continue to comb riverbanks covered in trash. As floodwaters have receded, the scale of the loss, especially of children, has plunged the nation into mourning.