Girls ‘Missing’ from Texas Bible Camp After Deadly Floods

A Christian girls’ summer camp turned into a disaster zone overnight after catastrophic flash floods swept through the Texas Hill Country, leaving cabins destroyed and an unknown number of children missing.

Authorities are scrambling to locate campers from Camp Mystic, an elite all-girls Christian sleepaway camp nestled along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, west of San Antonio. The normally serene riverside camp became ground zero for devastation after relentless rains triggered a surge of water that overwhelmed the area and tore through camp structures.

“We lost contact with some of the girls when the cabins started to flood and collapse,” one of the senior staff members reportedly told local officials, according to the Austin American-Statesman. “We tried to evacuate, but the water came too fast.”

Photos from the scene show campers wading waist-deep in murky floodwater under the cover of darkness, clutching sleeping bags and backpacks. Roads leading into the camp were completely washed out, leaving rescue teams with no choice but to call for air support to evacuate trapped staff and children.

Camp Mystic, founded in 1926, caters to girls ages 7–17 and is known for its traditional Christian programming and high tuition. Many families send their daughters there year after year — some for generations.

“We never imagined something like this could happen here,” said Linda Covington, a local parent whose daughter attended the camp last year. “It’s supposed to be a place of joy and safety.”

The flooding that struck Camp Mystic is part of a wider weather emergency in Central Texas. In neighboring Hill County, six people have already been confirmed dead. Officials have described the ongoing situation as “catastrophic,” with rivers rising rapidly and dozens of communities under flood warnings.

Emergency crews remain on the scene, but as of Friday morning, the number of missing girls has not been officially released. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, and helicopters were seen hovering over the area at dawn.

Guadalupe River levels swelled rapidly overnight after days of torrential rain, overwhelming flood barriers and submerging structures miles from the riverbank.

“This is the kind of flooding that wipes out everything in its path — homes, roads, and even camps,” warned meteorologist Colton Ramirez of KENS 5 News. “People don’t realize how deadly river flooding can be until it’s too late.”

As worried parents swarm social media in search of updates, the camp has not issued a public statement, further deepening the anxiety surrounding the fate of the missing girls.

The National Guard and local sheriff’s departments are now coordinating with FEMA as part of a broader flood response effort.