Camp Mystic, a 99-year-old Christian summer camp for girls in Texas Hill Country, was hosting 750 children this week when catastrophic flooding struck the Guadalupe River early Friday, leaving at least 20 children missing.
Founded in 1926, Camp Mystic operates two sites along the river in Hunt, Texas.
Camp Mystic said in an email to parents of the roughly 750 campers that if they have not been contacted directly, their child is accounted for.
Dick and Tweety Eastland, the current owners, have been involved with Camp Mystic since 1974.
A video on the Camp Mystic website shows a sprawling campus by the river, with footage of girls playing in the water, rowing boats, riding horses and playing tennis.
When devastating flooding struck the Guadalupe River early Friday, at least 20 children were reported missing from Camp Mystic, a 99-year-old Christian summer camp for girls in Texas Hill Country that was housing 750 children this week.
Camp Mystic was established in 1926 and runs two locations in Hunt, Texas, along the river. According to its website, it has long promoted itself as a place where girls can “develop outstanding personal qualities and self-esteem” as well as grow spiritually.
Mystic challenges its campers every summer to “let Mystic bring out the best in them” and to “be a better person for being at Mystic.”. Long-lasting friendships and a “wholesome Christian atmosphere” are highlighted on the camp’s website. “.”.
At least 24 people were killed by the flash floods in the Texas Hill Country. Although the identities of the deceased and missing have not yet been made public, numerous families have reported in local Facebook groups that they have been contacted by safety officials informing them that their daughters have not yet been found.
In an email to the parents of the approximately 750 campers, Camp Mystic stated that their child is accounted for if they have not received a direct message.
The present proprietors, Dick and Tweety Eastland, have owned Camp Mystic since 1974. The camp, which dates back to the 1930s, has been owned by the same family for many generations.
A video on the Camp Mystic website features girls playing tennis, rowing boats, riding horses, and playing in the water on a sprawling campus by the river.
Flash flooding started at four in the morning. M. Friday: The Guadalupe River swelled due to heavy overnight rain. Officials claim they were unable to issue evacuation orders in time because of the rapidity with which the water swept into Kerr County and the surrounding areas.
The county seat of Kerrville’s city manager, Dalton Rice, stated, “This happened very quickly, over a very short period of time, that could not be predicted, even with the radar.”. All of this occurred in less than two hours. “.”.
There have been reports of bodies being discovered in cars that were washed upstream.
Although downstream sections, including those close to Spring Branch, were not anticipated to peak until early Saturday, the river had already crested in Kerrville and Comfort by Friday evening. A crest of 37.2 feet, or moderate flood stage, was predicted by the National Weather Service for that location.
