Latest news with #Childress
International Business Times
08-07-2025
- General
- International Business Times
Who Was Chloe Childress? Teen Counselor Who Was 'Loving and Mentoring' Children at Camp Mystic Killed Saving Them During Texas Floods
A teenage camp counselor, who had been looking forward to a summer "loving and mentoring" children under her watch, was one of the girls killed when record-breaking flash floods tore through a Christian camp in Texas over the weekend, her family shared the heartbreaking news on Monday. Chloe Childress, 19, was among the at least 26 campers and staff members from Camp Mystic — an all-girls Christian summer camp located in Hunt — who lost their lives when the Guadalupe River surged more than 26 feet in less than an hour early Friday morning. The devastating flash flood has also claimed the lives of at least 89 people across the nearby area. Died Saving Others "Returning as a counselor to the place she loved so dearly, Chloe was looking forward to dedicating her summer days to loving and mentoring young girls at Camp Mystic," Childress' heartbroken family said in a statement. The Houston teen, who had only been at the camp for a few days, "lived a beautiful life that saturated those around her with contagious joy, unending grace, and abiding faith," her family shared. "While we know that her joy is now eternal and her faith has become sight, our hearts are shattered by this loss and the similar heartbreak of other families like ours." Childress was co-president of the honor council at The Kinkaid School, her high school, participated in varsity cross country, and started a club focused on helping senior citizens, according to her LinkedIn profile Head of School Jonathan Eades told ABC News that the recent graduate "lost her life upholding this selfless and fierce commitment to others." "A loyal and beloved friend to all who knew her, Chloe led with empathy. Her honesty gave others the courage to speak up. Her resilience helped others push through. Her joy, so present in all the little things, reminded all who knew her to keep showing up with heart," he said. Unfulfilled Dreams Childress was set to begin her studies at the University of Texas at Austin this fall. Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday that 41 people were officially listed as missing across the state, with the possibility that more people have yet to be identified. Hundreds of young girls were attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp located along the river, and many others were vacationing in the rural area to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. Residents are now questioning why authorities failed to issue flood warnings until 1:18 p.m. on July 3—the day the storms began—and initially labeled them as merely "moderate." The National Weather Service didn't upgrade the alert to a flash flood warning until 1 a.m. on Friday, declaring a Flash Flood Emergency by 4:30 a.m. However, by that time, floodwaters were already rushing into people's homes. Many Texans believe the delayed warnings led to the high death toll.
New York Post
08-07-2025
- General
- New York Post
Teen counselor killed after Texas flood tore through Christian camp ‘she loved so dearly' had heartbreaking wish for summer
A teen counselor who was excited about spending the summer 'loving and mentoring' her young charges was among the girls killed when historic flash flooding swept through a Texas Christian camp over the weekend, her devastated family revealed Monday. Chloe Childress, 19, and at least 26 other campers and counselors from Camp Mystic — an all-girls summer camp in Hunt — died when the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in less than an hour early Friday morning, killing at least 82 people in the surrounding community. 'Returning as a counselor to the place she loved so dearly, Chloe was looking forward to dedicating her summer days to loving and mentoring young girls at Camp Mystic,' her heartbroken family said in a statement. The Houston teen, who had arrived at the camp just days before, 'lived a beautiful life that saturated those around her with contagious joy, unending grace, and abiding faith,' they added. 4 Chloe Childress, a Camp Mystic counselor, was killed in this weekend's historic flooding in Texas. VSCO/Chloe Childress 4 Childress was planning to attend the University of Texas at Austin this fall. VSCO/Chloe Childress 'While we know that her joy is now eternal and her faith has become sight, our hearts are shattered by this loss and the similar heartbreak of other families like ours.' Childress was the co-president of the honor council at The Kinkaid School, her high school, ran varsity cross country and founded a club devoted to helping senior citizens, according to her LinkedIn profile. The recent graduate 'lost her life upholding this selfless and fierce commitment to others,' Head of School Jonathan Eades said in a statement, according to ABC News. 'A loyal and beloved friend to all who knew her, Chloe led with empathy. Her honesty gave others the courage to speak up. Her resilience helped others push through. Her joy, so present in all the little things, reminded all who knew her to keep showing up with heart,' he said. 4 Childress's family remembered Chloe for her 'joy' and faith. VSCO/Chloe Childress 4 Childress was among the 27 confirmed Camp Mystic campers and counselors killed this weekend. VSCO/Chloe Childress She was due to attend the University of Texas at Austin in the fall. The catastrophic flooding has left more than 100 dead and many still missing, according to local officials. Most of the deaths were reported in Kerr County, north of San Antonio. The river reached its second-highest height on record, surpassing an eerily similar 1987 deluge, according to the National Weather Service.
Metro
07-07-2025
- General
- Metro
Tributes to 'brave' Camp Mystic counselor, 18, who died saving children in Texas
A young counselor who helped build the Camp Mystic community was among more than two dozen at the camp who died in the Texas floodwaters. Chloe Childress, 18, had just graduated from The Kinkaid School in Houston and was working at the camp when the Guadalupe River flooding swept her and others away before daybreak on Friday. Childress was stationed at Bubble Inn Cabin, which housed the youngest girls, aged eight to 10, at the century-old Christian camp. Bubble Inn and Twins cabins were less than 500 feet from the river and close to a creek that overflowed simultaneously. The two bodies of water made it it especially difficult for the girls to escape. The bodies of Childress and nine other girls were found on Monday morning. 'Whether it was sharing her own challenges to ease someone's burden or quietly cheering a teammate or classmate through a tough day, Chloe made space for others to feel safe, valued, and brave,' wrote The Kinkaid School head Jonathan Eades in a letter to the community. 'She understood what it meant to be part of a community, and more than that, she helped build one.' Eades added that Childress 'was wise beyond her years, with a steady compassion that settled a room'. Childress began working at the camp in June shortly after graduating high school, according to her LinkedIn profile. She was set to attend the University of Texas at Austin in the fall, before her life was tragically cut short. The body of Camp Mystic director Richard 'Dick' Eastland, 70, was also recovered with the bodies of three girls he had attempted to save. Eastland was trying to rescue girls from the Bubble Inn cabin, which was 15 feet above the normal water level, The Washington Post reported. More Trending As of Monday afternoon, the bodies of Katherine Ferruzzo, a 68-year-old counselor, and 10 campers were still missing. A total of 27 campers and counselors vanished during the worst flash floods the US has seen in decades. At least 90 people have been killed across the Hill Country as storms continue to batter the region. 'Texas is grieving right now. The pain, the shock of what has transpired these last few days has broken the heart of our state,' said Senator Ted Cruz. The Camp Mystic deaths, he added, are 'every parent's nightmare'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Girl, 8, killed after illegal firework strike on Independence Day MORE: Nissan recalls 480,000 vehicles over fears their engines might fail MORE: Last words of hero dad who died helping his family escape devastating Texas floods
07-07-2025
- General
Camp Mystic counselor who died in Texas flooding remembered as 'loyal and beloved'
Chloe Childress, a counselor at Camp Mystic, was killed during the devastating flooding in Hunt, Texas, over the holiday weekend, according to a representative of her high school. She graduated from The Kinkaid School earlier this year and was set to attend the University of Texas at Austin in the fall. Jonathan Eades, the head of The Kinkaid School, remembered Childress as someone who had a "remarkable way of making people feel seen" and "steady compassion that settled a room." "Whether it was sharing her own challenges to ease someone's burden or quietly cheering a teammate or classmate through a tough day, Chloe made space for others to feel safe, valued, and brave. She understood what it meant to be part of a community, and more than that, she helped build one," Eades wrote in a letter to the school community. While in high school, she was the co-president of her school's Honor Council, ran varsity cross country and founded a club devoted to helping senior citizens, according to her LinkedIn. According to Eades, Childress "lost her life upholding this selfless and fierce commitment to others." "A loyal and beloved friend to all who knew her, Chloe led with empathy. Her honesty gave others the courage to speak up. Her resilience helped others push through. Her joy, so present in all the little things, reminded all who knew her to keep showing up with heart," he said. Catastrophic flooding over the Fourth of July weekend in Texas left at least 78 people dead and many more are missing, according to officials. By far the greatest number of fatalities occurred in Kerr County, where 68 people are believed to be dead, according to officials, including 28 children. There are several major camps in the area. At one of them, Camp Mystic, on the banks of the Guadalupe River, at least 11 of its 750 young female campers and counselors, including Childress, died in the flooding. The Guadalupe River in Kerr County rose a staggering 26 feet in 45 minutes, officials said. The river reached its second-highest height on record, surpassing a 1987 flood level, according to the National Weather Service.
Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
Texas flood victims: What we know
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The death toll is expected to rise, and forecasters warn of more rain on July 6 in areas that were already hard hit. The flash flooding on the Guadalupe River in central Texas has killed at least 79 people. Local officials in Kerr County said on July 6 that 10 girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic, an all-girls' Christian summer camp, are still missing. On July 6, near the bank of the Guadalupe River in Ingram, the search for survivors grew more desperate as volunteers prepared horses to help search and rescue efforts. Flood damage made it difficult for vehicles to reach many areas. The death toll is expected to rise, and forecasters warn of more rain on July 6 in areas that were already hard hit. Here's what we know about those who were killed. Chloe Childress Ms Chloe Childress, 18, a counselor at Camp Mystic, died when floodwaters swept through the camp, according to the school she had recently graduated from. Mr Jonathan Eades, head of school at the Kinkaid School in Houston, wrote in a statement that Ms Childress lost her life upholding a 'selfless and fierce commitment to others'. 'She was wise beyond her years, with a steady compassion that settled a room,' he wrote. 'Whether it was sharing her own challenges to ease someone's burden or quietly cheering a teammate or classmate through a tough day, Chloe made space for others to feel safe, valued, and brave.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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Mr Eastland and his wife Tweety have run the nearly century-old Christian summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe for decades. He was reportedly swept away while trying to rescue children from rising floodwaters. 'If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for,' Mr Eastland's grandson George wrote on Instagram. 'That's the man my grandfather was. A husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to thousands of young women, he no longer walks this earth, but his impact will never leave the lives he touched.' Julian Ryan Exhausted from a long night working as a dishwasher at a local restaurant, Mr Julian Ryan, 27, was asleep in his trailer home in Ingram, Texas, when the river reached his front door on July 4 before dawn. By the time he and his fiancee Christinia Wilson woke up, water was up to their ankles. His mother Marilyn Ryan and his 6-year-old son had already rushed into the room for safety. In what seemed like a blink, Ms Wilson said, the water was up to their waists; their front door had burst open and the river had gushed into the house. Their mattress began to float, so they placed their 13-month-old son and the 6-year-old atop it. The bedroom door was stuck shut from the water pressure on the other side. In a panic, Mr Ryan tried to punch through a window so they could escape. But the sharp glass cut nearly through his arm, causing him to bleed profusely, Ms Wilson and Ms Marilyn Ryan said on July 5 in a phone interview. They called 911 again and again, but no one came, both women said. With the water rising to their chins, the women shouted for help as Mr Ryan started to lose consciousness, they said. 'He had lost so much blood and knew he wasn't going to make it,' Ms Wilson said. 'He said, 'I love you. I'm so sorry.' In minutes, he was gone.' Ms Wilson said the trailer was torn in half by the force of the water, yet everyone in the family but Julian survived. 'He was the best father, and was always such a happy person who was never above helping people, no matter what it cost,' she said. 'He died trying to save us.' Blair and Brooke Harber Two young sisters, Blair and Brooke Harber, were staying in a cabin along the Guadalupe with their grandparents when their cabin was washed away, according to the Reverend Joshua J. Whitfield, the pastor of their Dallas church, St Rita Catholic Community. Blair, 13, was headed to eighth grade at St Rita's school. Brooke, 11, was bound for sixth grade there. Both girls died and their grandparents are still missing, the pastor said on July 5 in a letter to parishioners. Their parents – Ms Annie Harber, a first and second grade instructional specialist at St Rita's, and Mr RJ Harber – were staying in another cabin and are safe, he said. 'In moments like this, we are reminded of life's fragility and the lasting power of faith,' Mr Whitfield wrote, adding, 'we will honor Blair and Brooke's lives, the light they shared, and the joy they brought to everyone who knew them'. A prayer service for the girls was held at the church on the afternoon of July 5. A photo of the service shows a packed house. Katheryn Eads Ms Katheryn Eads, 52, died after being swept away in the floodwaters, her husband Brian Eads said in a brief phone call July 5. The couple were awakened by rushing water surrounding them inside their recreational vehicle, Mr Eads said. They managed to get out, and a man driving another RV offered them a ride. They made it across the street when the vehicle they were in died, Mr Eads said. The couple was swept out of the truck by water. Mr Eads said he was struck in the head by debris and lost track of his wife. He survived by holding onto a tree until he reached dry land, he said. Sarah Marsh Sarah Marsh, an 8-year-old student at Cherokee Bend Elementary in Mountain Brook, Alabama, was one of the campers at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas. In a statement posted online, Mr Stewart Welch, the mayor of Mountain Brook, a suburb of Birmingham, confirmed that Sarah was among those who died in the flood and said that the city was heartbroken. 'This is an unimaginable loss for her family, her school and our entire community,' he wrote. 'Sarah's passing is a sorrow shared by all of us, and our hearts are with those who knew her and loved her.' In a text message on July 5, Sarah's grandmother, Ms Debbie Ford Marsh, said that Sarah's parents were not able to talk and declined to comment on behalf of the family. Earlier, on Facebook, she posted: 'We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives. She will live on in our hearts forever!' Janie Hunt Janie Hunt, 9, of Dallas, died in the flash flooding, her grandmother Margaret Hunt said in an interview. Janie was also attending Camp Mystic. It was her first time there as a camper, and she attended along with six of her cousins, who were safe, Ms Hunt said. Ms Hunt said she was in Vermont when she got a call from her daughter, Ms Anne Lindsay Hunt, telling her about the flooding. Janie's parents drove to Ingram Elementary, the reunification center, where they were told to visit a funeral home and identify their daughter. Janie, a great-granddaughter of the oil baron William Herbert Hunt, was the eldest of three children. Bobby and Amanda Martin Mr Bobby Martin, 46, and his wife Amanda, 44, were among those killed, Bobby Martin's father, Mr John Keith Martin, told The New York Times. The couple, from Odessa, Texas, were reportedly camping by the Guadalupe River when their RV was swept away by rising floodwaters. The elder Martin said one of his grandchildren and that grandchild's girlfriend were with the couple and were still missing. 'He was an adventurous man, adventurous and outgoing. He had many good friends, because he was a good friend,' Mr John Keith Martin said of his son. 'He's just incredible.' Jane Ragsdale Ms Jane Ragsdale, director and co-owner of the Heart O' the Hills summer camp in Kerr County, is among those confirmed dead in the flooding, according to a statement posted to the camp's website. No campers were residing at the site when the floods hit. 'We at the camp are stunned and deeply saddened by Jane's death,' the statement said. 'She embodied the spirit of Heart O' the Hills and was exactly the type of strong, joyful woman that the camp aimed to develop with the girls entrusted to us each summer.' Ms Ragsdale, who became camp director in 1988, started as a camper and later became a counselor. NY TIMES
