A boy saved by barbed wire, a 'destroyed' camp and missed warning signs in Texas floods

July 6, 2025

A catastrophic flash flood along the Guadalupe River in Texas killed at least 51 people, including 15 children, during the Fourth of July weekend. The disaster struck Camp Mystic, an all-girls' Christian summer retreat, and surrounding areas in Kerr County when the river rose 26 feet in less than an hour despite no recent rainfall. The National Weather Service issued multiple warnings, including urgent "particularly dangerous situation" alerts in the early morning hours of Friday, but many people were asleep when these notifications went out.

Who is affected

Campers and staff at Camp Mystic, an all-girls' Christian summer retreat
Residents of Kerr County and surrounding central Texas counties
Families with missing or deceased members, including parents of Camp Mystic children
Leo, a teenage boy who survived after being caught in barbed wire
A mother and her baby who are still missing

What action is being taken

Evacuation efforts including helicopter rescues of campers like 13-year-old Elinor Lester
National Weather Service is issuing warnings and alerts about the flooding
Local residents are returning to assess damage to properties
People are using social media platforms like Facebook's "Kerrville Breaking News" group to search for missing persons
Neighbors are recovering and returning salvaged items to affected families

Why it matters

The disaster has resulted in at least 51 deaths, including 15 children
The flood represents a catastrophic failure to evacuate vulnerable populations despite the region being known as "Flash Flood Alley"
The timing of the warnings (early morning hours) meant many people were asleep and unable to respond
The unprecedented nature of the flood (26-foot rise in less than an hour) highlights extreme weather risks
The incident raises questions about emergency preparedness at riverside camps and communities

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC