Sammy Turner, Amanda Henderson, KHOU 11 Staff, KENS 5 Staff
7:25 AM EDT July 6, 2025
10:56 AM EDT July 6, 2025
The family of Renee Smajstrla, a camper at Camp Mystic, has confirmed to KHOU 11’s Amanda Henderson that the young girl has lost her life due to the devastating floods on the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas.
Renee’s uncle told KHOU 11 she will forever “be living her best life” at Camp Mystic.
Her family said the photo below was taken on July 3, the day before the catastrophic flooding hit the region.
More than 750 girls were staying at Camp Mystic when the floods hit. As of Saturday, local officials said 27 of those kids remain missing.
“Today is going to be a challenging day,” declared Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. during a news briefing on Saturday. “Please keep our community in your thoughts and prayers.”
Rescue and recovery missions proceeded on Saturday as the number of fatalities from the flood rose. Officials in Kerr County reported that at least 43 individuals have been found dead, including 15 children.
“We’re constantly going through shift management cycles to make sure our first responders and crews are taken care of,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice. “We’ve been rescuing people by the hundreds all day.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard are among the entities that have responded to the crisis, amounting to hundreds of personnel and vehicles participating in search efforts. Officials said more than 850 people have been rescued from the flooding, with many grabbing on to trees and waiting hours for rescue.
“We will not stop until every single person is found,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said. “It’s going to take a while.”
