Thirteen dead, children missing after severe flooding in central Texas

At least thirteen people have died and several others, including children, are missing after severe flooding hit central Texas overnight, affecting areas west of Austin and cutting off access to several summer camps.

Emergency crews are focusing rescue operations near Camp Mystic, a private girls’ summer camp in Hunt that hosts around 750 children. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said helicopter rescues are ongoing, with multiple flights evacuating children and counsellors stranded by floodwaters. “That does not mean they’re lost—they could be in a tree or out of communication,” he noted.

More than 500 personnel, 14 helicopters, 12 drones, and nine water rescue teams have been deployed to the area. Officials say poor weather initially delayed aerial operations, but flights are now underway.

The flooding followed heavy overnight rainfall—up to 10 inches in some areas—which caused the Guadalupe River to rise by more than 22 feet in just a few hours. The rapid surge overwhelmed parts of Kerr and Kendall counties. Authorities say conditions developed too quickly to issue timely evacuation orders.

Dalton Rice, city manager of Kerrville, described the event as “a two-hour span” that left little room for alerts. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. declared a local disaster emergency, and residents have been advised to shelter in place.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha warned that more fatalities could be confirmed. “There are still several people unaccounted for. This is going to be a multi-day process,” he said.

Camp Mystic staff reported road access had been cut off and some cabins may have been washed out. Families were informed that all campers at specific locations were safe, while parents of unaccounted-for children had been contacted directly.

Copied