A DEVASTATING photo showing the smiling faces of the Camp Mystic girls has become the symbol of the Texas floods as the death toll climbs to 104.
The entire group from the Bubble Inn cabin — 13 girls and two counselors — were swept away when a wall of water slammed through the summer camp.
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Camp Mystic confirmed 27 campers and counselors have died in the disaster, with four still missing.
Among the lost are some of the camp’s youngest attendees, aged just eight and ten.
The Bubble Inn cabin sat just 500 feet from the Guadalupe River, where the floodwaters hit hardest over the July Fourth weekend.
So far, 10 girls and 18-year-old counselor Chloe Childress have been found dead.
The camp’s director, Richard “Dick” Eastland, died trying to save the children.
Katherine Ferruzzo, another counselor, and campers Molly DeWitt, Ellen Getten, and Abby Pohl remain missing.
Among the victims were eight-year-olds Renee Smajstrla and Sarah Marsh, nine-year-olds Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner, and 13- and 11-year-old sisters Blair and Brooke Harber, whose bodies were found “with their hands locked together” 15 miles downstream.
“We are beyond devastated and so heartbroken,” their aunt, Jennifer Harber, said.
A desperate search is still underway in Texas as rescuers scour the wreckage for the dozens still missing.
The Guadalupe River, swollen by torrential rains, burst its banks early Friday, sweeping through camps, homes, and entire communities across Central Texas.
At least 28 children are among the dead, and 41 people remain unaccounted for, with frantic families clinging to hope.
As rescuers enter their fifth day of searches, brave crews refuse to give up hope that survivors are waiting to be saved.
What we know so far…
“We will never presume they’re dead,” Jake Stovall, the founder of Gulf Search and Rescue, told CNN and vowed to keep working the scene for up to 15 days.
It comes as five million people across Central Texas remain under flood watch as more floods are feared.
Governor Greg Abbott said more flooding is likely, though not expected to match the devastation seen in Kerrville.
President Trump is set to visit Texas on Friday, though his administration has come under fire amid claims that National Weather Service staffing cuts may have delayed warnings.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is demanding an investigation into whether vacancies and outdated systems contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, called the accusations “a depraved lie,” insisting the NWS “did its job” and the floods were “an act of God.”
Read our Texas floods blog for the latest updates…
In pictures: Personal belongings seen scattered outside flooded cabins at Camp Mystic
Newsom sends California search and rescue teams to Texas
California is stepping in to help as Texas reels from catastrophic floods.
On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the deployment of specialized urban search and rescue teams to assist in the disaster zone.
He wrote on X: “California is deploying skilled Urban Search and Rescue Team members to support those facing the devastating floods in Texas.
“We grieve for the Texans who’ve lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods,” he added.
Benjamin Netanyahu sends prayers to Texas amid flooding
Israel is praying for Texas as it suffers severe flooding, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, adding that “Israel knows disaster,” including flooding and conflict.
The prime minister said on X: “My wife Sara and I and all of Israel are praying for the Great State of Texas.
“Israel knows disaster—we’ve lived through war, fire, and flood. Dear friends, we stand with you!”
What we know so far
As of Tuesday morning, the devastation in Texas continues to unfold in the aftermath of the catastrophic flooding that claimed at least 104 lives across six counties.
Kerr County has borne the brunt of the tragedy, reporting 84 deaths – including 28 children and 56 adults, NBC reports.
Among the hardest-hit communities is Camp Mystic, a beloved summer camp now reeling from heartbreak.
Camp officials confirmed they are “grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors.”
Rescue crews remain on the ground, continuing a desperate search for survivors four days after floodwaters swept through the region.
Though hopes dim with each passing hour, teams are combing through debris and inundated areas in a race against time.
To compound the tragedy, forecasters warn that more rain is on the way, with flash flooding risks persisting across Central Texas.
Residents are urged to stay alert as emergency responders continue their work in dangerous and difficult conditions.
In pictures: People take part in a vigil for flood victims in San Antonio, TX
Brothers’ miracle escape from floods
Two brothers in miracle escape from Texas floods after they swam for their lives as water reached top bunk in camp cabinJenna Bush Hagar remembers Camp Mystic
The former president’s daughter teared up as she spoke of Camp Mystic in an emotional segment of the Today show.
The host grew up on the grounds as she attended as a kid while her mom, Laura Bush, was a counselor.
“This camp was 100 years old, so grandmothers, mothers, kids, have all gone there,” she said.
The anchor said, “The stories I’ve heard over the last couple of days are beautiful and heartbreaking.
“Texas has a type of resilience. They’re generous people, where people want to reach out and help. Texas camps are really special.”
Who has attended Camp Mystic?
Many notable people have attended Camp Mystic, especially prominent Texas families.
One of the most famous alums is former First Lady Laura Bush, who was once a counselor.
Her daughter Jenna Bush Hagar also went there as a camper.
Other celebrity attendees include three daughters of former Texas governors and three generations of President Lyndon B Johnson’s family, NPR reported.
Search crews look for survivors
Search and recovery workers dug through debris looking for any survivors or remains of people swept up in the flash flooding at Camp Mystic on Sunday
Some crews paddled through the Guadalupe River
Bunkbeds left mangled
Bunkbeds were left askew and covered in mud after the floods blew through
Belongings were left strewn on the ground by the rushing water
Haunting pictures of aftermath
Horrifying pictures show the aftermath of the Texas floods that have claimed dozens of lives and left girls attending a summer camp missing.
At least 90 bodies have been recovered since deadly rains washed over the Guadalupe River outside San Antonio over the July 4th holiday weekend.
One of the worst-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp located dangerously close to the flooding shores.
Ten girls and a counselor attending the camp are still missing. They make up a heart-wrenching portion of the 41 people who are unaccounted for across the state.
Crews head to Texas
Legislators across the US are directing rescue crews to help search for more flood survivors.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he’s sending water rescue crews and was “happy to step up.”
“Texas has helped us when we’ve had different issues throughout the years,” he said at a news conference.
Meanwhile, Nebraska is sending a 45-member search and rescue team with two canine teams and boats.
Death toll climbs to 94
Kendall County has reported six more deaths, according to a news release from the county emergency management.
This means that the overall toll has climbed to 94.
“Our hearts are with every family and individual affected,” wrote the county.
“We are receiving your messages and doing our best to respond, but please understand that our resources are fully deployed across rescue, recovery, and mitigation operations.”
Parents mourn their twin daughters
Twin sisters Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence are among the campers killed by the deadly waters.
Their parents, John and Lacy, said that the girls “brought so much joy” to their family before their tragic deaths.
“We will find ways to keep that joy, and to continue to spread it for them.
“But we are devastated that the bond we shared with them, and that they shared with each other, is now frozen in time.”
Flash flood threats spread
While central Texas recovers from the devastating floods, tropical storm Chantal is dumping rain on North Carolina and moving up through the northeast.
Residents in central parts of the southern state were left stranded and waiting for rescue crews to save them from their flooded homes after the storm hit on Monday.
At least 10 inches of rain poured onto parts of North Carolina, leaving some drivers trapped on the roads and highways shut down, according to the New York Times.
Trump heading to Texas
The president is expected to visit the flood site later this week, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
She said that Donald Trump would be investigating the “once in a generation national disaster” and urged everyone to “remain vigilant.”
The spokeswoman said that he would likely visit on Friday.
Warning system was rejected before flood
Officials in Kerry County had discussed installing a flood warning system off the banks of the Guadalupe River in 2017, but rejected the idea because it was too expensive.
Local leaders decided that the sirens, river gauges, and other communication tools couldn’t fit in the budget, the New York Times reported.
Mayoral candidate blasted for sick post
Former Houston mayoral candidate Sade Perkins described Camp Mystic as being “all-white” in a TikTok that sparked online outrage.
“I know I’m going to get cancelled for this, but Camp Mystic is a white-only girls’ Christian Camp,” she said in a video on her private account.
“They don’t even have a token Asian. They don’t have a token Black person. It’s an all-white, white-only conservative Christian camp.”
Perkins went on to claim that if more of the campers were minorities, people wouldn’t care as much about the tragedy.
Camp director’s tragic final act
The director of Camp Mystic desperately tried to save young girls in a heartbreaking final act before the vacation spot was swamped by flooding.
At least 27 campers and staffers were killed in the deluge that has been branded “nothing short of horrific” by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Dick Eastland and his wife, Tweety, were the third-generation of their family to manage the camp, having bought it in 1974.
He was trying to rescue young campers when the flooding hit the camp on July 4, located around 80 miles northwest of San Antonio.
Sisters killed and grandparents missing
Sisters Blair (left), 13, and Brooke Harber (right), 11, were found dead after the floods
Blair, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, were staying with their grandparents when they were killed by the floods.
Their parents are safe, but their grandparents, Charlene and Mike Harber, are missing.
Cruz reveals connection to camps
Cruz said that his daughters had been going to camps in the Kerr County area for 10 years when the floods struck.
He said he had just picked up one of his girls one week before the rain started pouring.
The senator described the situation as “every parent’s nightmare.”
“The pain and agony of not knowing your children’s whereabouts is the worst thing imaginable,” he said.
Cruz said that budget cuts aren’t to blame
The Texas senator said that federal cuts to the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency didn’t impact rescue efforts.
He said, “There will be a time to find out what could have been done differently.
“My hope is, in time, we learn some lessons to implement the next time there is a flood.”
Texas floods deaths breakdown
- Kerr County – 75 deaths
- Travis County – 7 deaths
- Burnet County – 3 deaths
- Kendall County – 2 deaths
- Williamson County – 2 deaths
- Tom Green County – 1 death
Death toll rises
Kerr County officials confirmed that 75 bodies have been recovered since the flooding blew through.
This brings the total death toll across the state to 90, USA Today reported.
Search continues for missing people
Ella Cahill is still missing
Reese Manchaca is also still missing
