Tragic Flood at Camp Mystic
Survivors of Camp Mystic have recounted a heartbreaking experience during the Texas floods that occurred over the Fourth of July weekend. The camp, located in Kerr County, became the site of a catastrophe early in the morning, leaving many campers in distress.
On the night of the flooding, a flash-flood warning was issued at 1:14 a.m., indicating severe danger for the area. Despite this warning, most of the 650 campers and staff were asleep when the storm began to escalate around 3 a.m., causing a rapid rise in water levels from the nearby Guadalupe River.
One teenage survivor, Amelia Moore, 14, described how counselors assured campers that all younger children had been moved to safety before the storm hit. Tragically, this was not the case; as a result, at least 27 campers lost their lives in the deluge. Amelia was awakened by a thunderclap at around 2 a.m. and could hear screams from girls in lower cabins as the water began to invade their sleeping quarters. Instead of acknowledging the danger, counselors instructed the campers to stay put, leading to confusion and fear as the reality of the situation became clearer.
“I think many counselors had been there for years and didn’t take the storm seriously,” Amelia shared. As more frightened girls sought refuge in her cabin, it became apparent that this was not just a typical summer storm. With water creeping into some cabins, the atmosphere shifted from calm to urgent, but the reassurance given by staff contributed to a lack of immediate panic.
After a few hours, Amelia fell back asleep only to wake up later to find the camp transformed. The area where many older campers were situated, known as Senior Hill, was now completely cut off by floodwaters and downed trees. They were stranded without food or any means to communicate since the camp rules restricted personal items like snacks and cell phones.
As time passed, hunger set in among the campers. “We were starving. We kept asking if anyone had secretly brought food,” Amelia remembered. Meanwhile, misinformation from counselors only added to the distress, as they maintained that the younger campers had been safely relocated.
The situation worsened for those in Chatterbox, a cabin on lower ground housing the youngest girls. Amelia recalled how campers were forced to escape through windows and climb to higher ground in the dark, some barefoot and still in their pajamas. “We were told that the flats were safe and that the girls were having fun in Rec Hall. It makes me sick to think about it now,” she expressed.
As hours dragged on, chaos ensued when the first rescue helicopter finally arrived around 3 p.m., more than 12 hours after the flooding began. The evacuation process was slow; the helicopters could only take a few people at a time, and there was confusion about who was in charge. Many counselors were young and lacked the experience needed to handle such a crisis.
“It was hectic. None of the counselors were older than 21, and they were trying to figure everything out as panic set in,” Amelia said. Confusion led to frustration as newcomers tried to bypass the evacuation order, adding to the already tense situation.
The organizers of the camp did not respond to requests for comments on the incident. With loss of life and stories of survival interwoven, it’s clear that this tragedy will long remain in the hearts of those who experienced it.
This devastating event raises questions about preparedness and communication in a crisis, emphasizing the need for better protocols to protect vulnerable populations, especially children. As communities come together to support those affected, it’s essential to conduct thorough investigations to ensure that similar tragedies are avoided in the future. The resilience shown by the survivors is a testament to the human spirit, but it should also be a call to action for better safety measures in places where children gather.
