At least six people have been confirmed dead and an unknown number remain missing after a devastating flash flood swept through parts of central Texas overnight, triggering a large-scale emergency response across multiple counties and prompting urgent search efforts for missing children at summer camps.
The torrential downpour, described by the National Weather Service (NWS) as a “catastrophic flooding event,” struck rapidly and without warning late Thursday into early Friday. Between five and ten inches of rain fell in a matter of hours, overwhelming the dry, drought-stricken ground in Kerr and Kendall counties and causing the Guadalupe River to surge more than 22 feet in Kerrville alone — one of its highest levels on record.
Among the most alarming concerns are the dozens of children who may have been caught in floodwaters while attending nearby summer camps, as floodwaters inundated rural campgrounds west of Austin. Authorities have yet to confirm the number of missing children.
“Everybody is doing everything in their power to get these kids out,” Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said during a tense Friday afternoon news briefing. He declined to release official fatality figures, citing the rapidly evolving situation, but local media outlets have reported at least six confirmed deaths so far. The identities and ages of the victims have not been disclosed.
Dalton Rice, the city manager for Kerrville, described the intensity of the storm as unprecedented and virtually unforecastable. “This happened very quickly, over a very short period of time, that could not be predicted, even with the radar,” Rice told reporters. “This happened within less than a two-hour span.”
Efforts are especially focused on multiple summer camps in the area, now feared to be directly impacted. Staff at Camp Mystic, an all-girls camp in the region, confirmed that campers at two of its locations — Cypress Lake and Senior Hill — were safe, though they also acknowledged that some families had been notified regarding campers not yet accounted for.
“We are working with search and rescue currently,” the camp said in a message to parents. “The highway has washed away so we are struggling to get more help. Please continue to pray and send any help if you have contacts to do so.”
A disaster declaration was issued Friday morning by Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. as local, state, and federal responders coordinated search and rescue operations throughout the area. Kerr County Sheriff’s Office warned that “the entire county is an extremely active scene,” and residents were advised to shelter in place and avoid travel. “Those near creeks, streams, and the Guadalupe River should immediately move to higher ground,” the office said.
The National Weather Service in San Angelo echoed the urgency: “Conditions are life-threatening! DO NOT go out onto the roads. Expect roads washed out and rapid rises on rivers and creeks.”
The situation remains dire, with continued rainfall expected to complicate rescue operations. The NWS has issued a flash flood emergency for the Guadalupe River between Center Point and Sisterdale. “This is a particularly dangerous situation,” the warning read. “Seek higher ground now.”
Authorities are continuing search operations with hopes of finding survivors, especially the children still unaccounted for. As emergency personnel battle washed-out roads and rising waters, the community remains on high alert — bracing for more rainfall and praying for those still missing.
This is a developing story.
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