Texas Flood Tragedy: 27 Dead, Including Children, at Camp Mystic
Sarah Johnson
July 5, 2025
Brief
Devastating Texas flood at Camp Mystic kills 27, including children. Rescue efforts ongoing as families search for missing campers.
A catastrophic flood ravaged Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp in Hunt, Texas, claiming the lives of 27 people, including nine children. Among the victims were two young campers, Renee Smajstrla and Janie Hunt, as confirmed by A Voice for the Voiceless, a nonprofit advocating for the missing and crime victims. The tragedy unfolded when the Guadalupe River surged nearly 30 feet in just 45 minutes, transforming a place of summer joy into a scene of heartbreak.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported that 23 to 25 campers were initially unaccounted for, with the camp hosting 750 attendees at the time. Rescue efforts were swift and extensive, with helicopters and military vehicles evacuating 237 people, 167 by air. The National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard joined Texas’ robust response, deploying over 1,000 state responders and 800 vehicles. Governor Greg Abbott declared an emergency for 15 counties, noting more could be added, and called for prayers, saying, "This is a time when we, as a state, need God more than ever."
Families gathered at reunification centers at Ingram Elementary School and The Arcadia Live Theater in Kerrville, clinging to hope. Parents like Ellen Toranzo and Carrie Hanna shared their anguish, with their daughters Greta and Hadley among the missing. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Elinor Lester, evacuated by helicopter from higher ground, described the camp as "completely destroyed." Younger campers, housed along the riverbanks, faced the brunt of the flood’s fury.
President Donald Trump called the disaster "shocking" and pledged federal aid, while Vice President JD Vance, a devout Catholic, offered prayers, including the Eternal Rest Prayer, for the victims. The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office urges those seeking loved ones to contact the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.
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Editor's Comments
When the Guadalupe River decided to throw a 30-foot tantrum in 45 minutes, it turned Camp Mystic into a grim reminder that nature doesn’t play favorites. While the National Guard and Coast Guard are pulling out all the stops, you have to wonder if the river’s rise was faster than a Texas politician dodging a tough question. Here’s hoping the reunification centers bring more answers than a press conference, and that the prayers Governor Abbott’s calling for don’t get stuck in the mud.
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