Kerr County: The search for survivors continued in Central Texas on July 9, 2025, five days after catastrophic flash floods ravaged the Hill Country. At least 119 people are confirmed dead, and 170 remain missing across six counties. Most of the devastation is concentrated in Kerr County, home to the now-shattered Camp Mystic, where 27 young girls and counselors lost their lives in the overnight storm.
The disaster, triggered by a 26-foot surge in the Guadalupe River, has drawn sharp scrutiny toward local emergency response systems, flood alert failures, and the region’s lack of infrastructure to cope with flash flooding. Families are demanding answers. Government officials are urging patience. And amid the grief, the calls for accountability are growing louder.
As flags across Texas fly at half-staff, the nation is asking: could more lives have been saved?
Also Read: Texas Flood Relief: Where and How to Donate Today
Kerr County Bears the Brunt
The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, turning Highway 39 into a web of flooded crossings and trapping residents in isolated pockets of land. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed the latest numbers Wednesday: 95 dead, including 36 children, and 161 people still missing in the area alone.
“This has become the deadliest freshwater flood event in over a century in Texas,” said Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. He added that a special legislative session will examine flood preparedness, early alert systems, and evacuation protocols across the state.
I spent yesterday in Kerrville. It was another heartbreaking day, but also one filled with stories of heroism. I joined @foxandfriends early this morning to discuss. pic.twitter.com/8W1MBXtizU
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) July 8, 2025
Camp Mystic: A Catastrophe Foretold
Camp Mystic, a long-standing girls’ summer camp in Hunt, Texas, was ravaged by the overnight floodwaters. At least 27 campers and counselors were killed—many still unaccounted for as rescue dogs and volunteers sift through debris.
An inspection dated July 2, two days before the disaster, showed that “Camp Mystic had a written plan of procedures to be implemented in case of a disaster,” according to the Associated Press. But the plan wasn’t enough.
“Campers don’t have access to their phones while at camp,” said Charlotte Lauten, a nine-summer veteran of Camp Mystic, speaking to the AP. “It would have been pitch black, like could not see 5 feet in front of you type of darkness.”
“It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through,” Governor Greg Abbott said during a press conference.
Survivors reported that some staffers lacked walkie-talkies, and many counselors acted on instinct. One mother told CNN that her children were passed hand to hand through the water by three counselors. “The stories of what they did for these kids are amazing,” she said.
Were Flood Warnings Ignored?
According to a CBS News analysis, the National Weather Service issued 22 escalating warnings for Kerr County, but many local residents never received phone alerts or grasped the storm’s severity until it was too late.
“There were 22 warnings from the National Weather Service issued for Kerr County around the storms and flash flooding, which used escalating language as time went on,” the report states. “But some local residents said they did not receive emergency alerts on their phones nor did they understand how serious the situation had truly become until it actually happened.”
Further complicating matters, audio obtained by KSAT confirms that a firefighter requested a CodeRED emergency alert at 4:22 a.m. on July 4—but it was not approved for nearly six hours.
Sheriff Leitha acknowledged the delay and promised transparency:
“We’re not running, we’re not going to hide. Those questions need to be answered, to the families of the missed loved ones,” he said. “We’re going to get that answer.”
Climate, Cuts, and the “Last Mile”
Senator Ted Cruz and several federal officials have pointed to gaps in forecast dissemination as a critical weakness. Neil Jacobs, Trump’s nominee to head NOAA, addressed the concern during a Senate hearing:
“Even if you have a perfect forecast, if you can’t get the information to the people, it’s totally useless,” Jacobs said. “Modernizing the way to distribute these watches and warnings is something that’s going to be a top priority of mine.”
Critics have noted that both the San Antonio and San Angelo forecast offices were missing key personnel due to federal budget cuts, including the Warning Coordination Meteorologist—a role critical for local emergency partnerships.
Human Cost and Heroism
From search teams on horseback to mules hauling supplies, rescue operations have continued around the clock. One Camp La Junta cabin, with four staffers inside, floated down the river and miraculously wedged against a tree. All survived.
In Ingram, resident Amber Hensley recounted watching a woman and child being swept away.
“You don’t forget the screams. You don’t unsee it,” she told NBC News. “You don’t forget the cry for help.”
Meanwhile, locals are feeding each other from makeshift food stations, and communities like Hunt, Texas, are rallying under slogans like “Hunt Strong” as cleanup begins.
What Happens Next?
President Donald Trump has declared the region a federal disaster zone, and HUD announced a 90-day foreclosure freeze for affected homeowners in Kerr County. A public health emergency has also been issued to bring in out-of-state medical and mental health workers.
But families of the missing say their grief demands more than declarations.
“This is not a game,” said Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas. “People’s lives are at stake… I think there are accountability issues at every level of government.”
As flags across Texas fly at half-staff and the search for missing children continues, the July 2025 Texas floods mark a tipping point. For the state’s future—and for the families mourning unimaginable loss—silence is no longer an option.
