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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
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
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." MORE: Texas flooding updates: Statewide death toll now at least 78, say officials "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. MORE: At least 78 dead in Texas following heavy rains and 'catastrophic flooding,' say 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.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
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." MORE: Texas flooding updates: Statewide death toll now at least 78, say officials "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. MORE: At least 78 dead in Texas following heavy rains and 'catastrophic flooding,' say 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.
