Texas Flood Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 104 as Grieving Communities Seek Hope Amid Ruin

Catastrophic flash floods in central Texas have left a devastating trail, with the official death toll now at 104, and several still missing. On July 4th, torrential storms caused the Guadalupe River to surge more than 26 feet in under an hour—unleashing a natural disaster that has stunned the nation.

Camp Mystic: A Sacred Place Turned Scene of Sorrow

At Camp Mystic, a beloved Christian summer camp for girls, 27 lives were lost, including young campers and counselors, with 11 still unaccounted for. Survivor Stella Thompson, 13, described the harrowing scene: “It didn’t look like Camp Mystic anymore.” Debris littered the trees, kayaks hung in branches, and silence filled the air.

A Final Message of Love

Joyce Catherine Badon, 21, texted her parents, “We’re being washed away,” moments before floodwaters tore through the home she shared with college friends in Hunt. Her body was recovered days later. Her mother wrote: “We found our lovely daughter… God is good!”

Kerr County Bears the Brunt

With 84 fatalities, Kerr County has suffered the most. Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of emergency, while search teams continue to navigate dangerous terrain. Communities mourn together, holding vigils and remembering lives lost—like 9-year-old Janie Hunt, a relative of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt.

As waters recede, Texas prays—and searches—for healing.