Parents desperately seeking answers on missing campers after Texas flood
State officials confirmed Friday night that at least 25 people are dead, including adults and children. Among the deaths, 24 were reported in Kerr County and one was in Kendall County.
Families have lined up at reunification centers hoping to see their loved ones. According to the Kerr County Sheriff's Office, Ingram Elementary School in Ingram, Texas, and The Arcadia Live Theater in Kerrville, Texas, are being used as reunification centers.
Camp Mystic, which had approximately 750 attendees, reportedly told parents that if they had not been contacted directly it meant that their child was accounted for.
Ellen Toranzo told Fox News Digital that her daughter, Greta Toranzo, is one of the campers who went missing during the flood. Carrie Hanna also confirmed to Fox News Digital that her daughter, Hadley, is unaccounted for.
Elinor Lester, 13, told the Associated Press she was evacuated with her cabinmates by helicopter after wading through floodwaters. Lester also said that the "camp was completely destroyed" in the disastrous flood. The outlet noted that Lester was housed on higher ground at the camp, known as Senior Hill. Younger campers, who can begin attending at age 8, are housed along the riverbanks and were the first to flood, according to the Associated Press.
The National Guard was deployed in Texas to respond after heavy rain on Friday morning caused the Guadalupe River to rise nearly 30 feet in 45 minutes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later said that members of the U.S. Coast Guard were deployed to assist in evacuations.
Helicopters and military vehicles were used for evacuations. As of Friday night, 237 people had been evacuated, including 167 by helicopter.
Texas deployed more than 1,000 state responders and over 800 vehicles and equipment assets, according to Gov. Greg Abbott's office. The governor also declared an emergency for 15 counties, and his office said that more could be added to the list.
"This is a time when we, as a state, need God more than ever," Abbott said in a statement. "The one thing I hear the most are the prayers that are being sent for those who are in harm's way."
President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that the floods were "shocking" and "a terrible thing." He also said the state would receive federal aid and that his administration was working with Abbott.
The Kerr County Sheriff's Office is encouraging those with missing loved ones to call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 for information.
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CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
North Texans remember serene Camp Mystic as volunteers prepare for disaster relief
Clair Cannon and her daughter Jaclyn remember a vastly different Camp Mystic and Texas Hill Country than what exists now. "The special feeling of going through those green gates," Clair Cannon remembered. "It's just so serene." Clair Cannon was a camper there in the 1980s and 1990s, and Jaclyn Cannon was a camper just a few years ago. "I call it the happiest place on earth too," Jaclyn Cannon explained. "Inside those green gates, it's definitely a sacred place, and home." Now, the Plano residents are watching as their home away from home is wiped off the map. "You never would think that something like this would happen," Clair Cannon said. "Because it's truly one of the safest places for your child to be." "I honestly couldn't believe that it was true," said Jaclyn Cannon. "I think I went more so in a denial of somehow, something like this could have happened." Through games, chores, classes and various activities, girls at the camp bond for life. "On some days, it's everything's different and you create new memories constantly," Jaclyn Cannon said. "New friendships, regardless of ages and everything." Both women agree — Camp Mystic shaped who they are now. "The community that Mystic has is so strong," Clair Cannon said. "I believe that they will rebuild." As the Cannons pray for Camp Mystic, Texans on Mission already have assessors and chaplains down there. "We've been there helping them," said David Wells, Director of Disaster Relief. "Being a shoulder to cry on, being somebody to pray with, being somebody to give them support. And our chaplains are trained for these crisis situations." On Monday, the nonprofit's command center, shower unit and feeding unit will head down to the Kerrville area, with more teams going on Wednesday. "If there's anything wet in their house," Wells said. "Carpet, drywall, appliances — we can help get that to the curb, so the city or the county can take it from there. We can do a disinfectant to help them." Their volunteers have been monitoring the flooding and are prepared to help out homeowners. "It's terrifying," Wells said. "And our heart goes out to all the people."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Camp Mystic, a haven for generations of Texas girls, becomes a center of tragedy
Right along one of the Guadalupe River's bends, the Christian camp Camp Mystic has been a summertime haven for generations of Texas girls. But after a sudden flood came crashing through in the early hours of July Fourth, it's become the site of a tragedy pulling on the hearts of Texans across the state. Green-roofed cabins housing hundreds of campers and staff dotted the area, which is lush with cypress and live oak trees. This summer, Camp Mystic hosted 750 girls between 7 and 17 years old — that's more than half of Hunt's population of around 1,300. Campgrounds span over 700 acres in the heart of Texas' Hill Country, making it a peaceful place for girls to spend weeks singing campfire songs and making ceramics. Since they're right by the river, in between church services, they also learn how to kayak and fish for bass. That river reached catastrophic levels in less than an hour overnight with little warning, rising 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Fast-moving flood waters swept homes and cars away, and for Camp Mystic, made it difficult for staff to move hundreds of girls to safer ground in the dark. By Saturday morning, more than two dozen were still missing. Since the flood, city and state officials have been tirelessly searching for the unaccounted campers and other survivors. The flood's death toll rose to 32, according to the Kerr County sheriff's office — including 14 children. It's unknown how many were Camp Mystic campers. Among those who have been confirmed dead is Camp Mystic's director Richard 'Dick' Eastland, according to a Facebook post by his nephew. Operations of the 99-year-old camp have been passed down through four generations of the Eastland family. It's currently owned by the sons and daughter-in-laws of Dick and his wife, Tweety Eastland. Social media sites have been full of posts with photos of the missing girls, asking people to keep eyes out for survivors. Former campers are also sharing beloved memories and expressing heartache for mourning families. Just last week, Camp Mystic posted a video on Instagram recapping group dance performances from the girls. 'We will do anything humanly possible to find your daughter,' Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said to parents on Friday, adding that search and rescue teams are looking for survivors. A total of 14 state helicopters, 12 drones and 400 to 500 people on the ground helping with the search. On Friday, the camp office sent a desperate message to families saying they sustained 'catastrophic floods' and were working with rescuers. All power, wifi and water had been shut off at the facilities. The message stressed that parents of all children who were missing had been contacted. 'The highway was washed away so we are struggling to get more help,' the message said. 'Please continue to pray and send help if you have contacts to do so.' A little after 7 p.m. on Friday, the Texas Game Wardens announced they had reached the camp and were beginning to bring campers out. But the fate of many those unaccounted for remains unknown. Camp Mystic, which offers two 4-week terms and one 2-week term over the summer, has been the go-to summer camp for daughters of Texans for nearly a century — especially the state's political elite. 'Mystic girls,' as campers are called, include the daughters of former Texas governors Price Daniel, Dan Moody and John Connally, according to a 2011 article by Texas Monthly. Former President Lyndon B. Johnson's daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters also attended. First Lady Laura Bush was a camp counselor. Counselors typically are college-aged, some work there right after graduating high school. Because the river cuts through Hunt, it's a popular place for summer camps. Camp La Junta, an all-boys summer camp, is just a 7 minute drive north of Camp Mystic. Camp La Junta has confirmed that all campers are safe. Young Camp La Junta camper Ruffin Boyett told KSAT 'the cabins were flooding' and walls 'broke down' in the middle of the night. He said campers waited on rafters before swimming to safety. Ruffin's younger brother had to swim out of his cabin since floodwaters reached the top level of the bunkbeds. 'We had one choice and we had to swim out of our cabins,' he said. Hunt is home to just over 1,300 people, but when summer comes around, the small city's population multiplies because of young campers. Summer camps are one of the most lucrative businesses for Hunt, with close to a dozen clustered along the Guadalupe River. Girls summer camp Heart O' the Hills is just a mile north of Camp Mystic. 'Thankfully, camp was not in session,' according to the camp's Facebook page, and everyone who was on campgrounds over the weekend have been accounted for. But Heart O' the Hills confirmed that its camp director, Jane Ragsdale, is one of the flood's victims . 'We are mourning the loss of a woman who influenced countless lives and was the definition of strong and powerful,' the post reads.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Body recovered of Texas camp director who died heroically trying to save kids:' Dick was the father figure to all of us'
Camp Mystic co-owner Richard 'Dick' Eastland has been confirmed dead, attempting to heroically rescue some of his campers before they were swept away in the deadly Texas floodwaters. Eastland, who had been involved with the private all-girls Christian camp since purchasing it in 1974 and served as its director, died trying to save his kids from the devastating flash flooding that ripped through the region on Friday, according to Texas Public Radio. Eastland's nephew confirmed his death via Facebook. Dick Eastland died trying to save some of the girls at his camp. Camp Mystic Eastland and his wife, Tweety, owned the camp. They were the third owners since the camp was first erected in 1926. Tweety was found safe at the couple's home, reports indicated. Eastland taught fishing to the younger campers, and former participants described him as a caring, grandfatherly figure. The couple were revered by campers, and often seen teaching or roaming the camp grounds. 'Dick was the father figure to all of us while we were away from home at Camp Mystic for six weeks,' wrote former camper Paige Sumner. 'He was the father of four amazing boys, but he had hundreds of girls each term who looked up to him like a dad. 'I would never have taken a fishing class if it wasn't taught by my new friend Dick.' Eastland previously survived a bout with brain cancer, according to the Kerrville Daily Times. He also served on the Hunt Independent School District Board and was a former coach for the West Kerr County Little League and the West Kerr County Little Dribblers, the outlet reported. At least two dozen girls from the camp remain missing. Officials have so far recovered the bodies of 27 people, including at least four young campers who were swept away. Eastland bought the camp in 1974 with his wife, Tweety. LeslieEastland/Facebook There were some 750 campers on site when the flooding started Friday.
