Three young girls were found dead after a devastating flood swept through Camp Mystic, an all-girls private Christian camp in Hunt, Texas.
Anne Hunt confirmed to Fox News Digital that her daughter, Janie, was one of the campers who tragically lost their lives in the flood. Additionally, A Voice for the Voiceless, a nonprofit organization advocating for “the missing, voiceless, and crime victims,” identified the other deceased camper as Renee Smajstrla.
A third camper has been confirmed to be deceased, however her family has asked that her name not be released.
Janie Hunt was killed when a flood ripped through Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas on July 4, 2025. (Anne Hunt)
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported on Friday night that between 23 and 25 campers were unaccounted for. When the flood struck, there were 750 people attending the camp.
On Saturday, Kerr County announced the flood killed 27 people, 18 of whom were adults and 9 were children.
President Donald Trump addressed the tragedy on Truth Social on Saturday, assuring that the administration was coordinating with state and local officials to respond to the situation.
“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”
First responders scan the banks of the Guadalupe River for individuals swept away by flooding in Ingram, Texas, Friday, July 4, 2025. (Michel Fortier/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)
Elinor Lester, 13, told the Associated Press she was evacuated with her cabinmates by helicopter after wading through floodwaters. Lester also said that the “camp was completely destroyed” in the disastrous flood. The outlet noted that Lester was housed on higher ground at the camp, known as Senior Hill. Younger campers, who can begin attending at age 8, are housed along the riverbanks and were the first to flood, according to the Associated Press.
The National Guard was deployed in Texas to respond after heavy rain on Friday morning caused the Guadalupe River to rise nearly 30 feet in 45 minutes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later said that members of the U.S. Coast Guard were deployed to assist in evacuations.
Helicopters and military vehicles were used for evacuations. As of Friday night, 237 people had been evacuated, including 167 by helicopter.
A drone view shows flooded houses, following torrential rains that unleashed flash floods along the Guadalupe River in San Angelo, Texas, U.S., June 4, 2025, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. (Patrick Keely via Reuters)
Texas deployed more than 1,000 state responders and over 800 vehicles and equipment assets, according to Gov. Greg Abbott’s office. The governor also declared an emergency for 15 counties, and his office said that more could be added to the list.
“This is a time when we, as a state, need God more than ever,” Abbott said in a statement. “The one thing I hear the most are the prayers that are being sent for those who are in harm’s way.”
Families are reunited at a reunification center after flash flooding hit the area, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Ingram, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
“Our nation’s heart breaks for the victims in Texas and their families. Just an incomprehensible tragedy,” Vice President JD Vance wrote on X. “I hope everyone affected knows they’re in the prayers of my family, and of millions of Americans.”
The vice president, a devout Catholic, also included the Eternal Rest Prayer in his post.
The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging those with missing loved ones to call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 for information.
