Young girls from Texas summer camp missing after devastating floods: ‘We need God more than ever’

More than a dozen young girls remain missing after heavy rain caused the Guadalupe River in Texas to flood a local Christian kids’ camp in the city of Hunt.

“At least 24 people were dead and many missing after a storm unleashed nearly a foot of rain just before dawn Friday and sent floodwaters gushing out of the Guadalupe River,” the Associated Press reported.

“The flood-prone region known as Hill Country is dotted with century-old summer camps that draw thousands of kids annually from across the Lone Star State,” the reporting continued.

I’ve been trying to wrap my head around how the flooding in Texas became so devastating so quickly. Why not evacuate??

Then I saw this: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, around 4 a.m.

That doesn’t even seem natural. pic.twitter.com/CrCzXpu09V

— Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) July 5, 2025

One of the camps, Camp Mystic, was in operation when the flooding began. Around 20 young girls from the camp were missing as of Saturday morning, with some having already been reported dead, including Renee Smajstrla.

“Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,” her family reportedly wrote on Facebook.

“We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic. Please continue to pray for the other families in Kerrville,” the family added.

The family of missing Camp Mystic girl Renee Smajstrla gives heartbreaking update.

“Thank you to all our friends and family for all the prayers and outreach,” said Shawn Salta on Facebook.

“Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach… pic.twitter.com/tWjXtS7jV6

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 5, 2025

Thankfully, some girls had also been found alive, including 13-year-old Elinor Lester.

She “said she was evacuated with her cabinmates by helicopter after wading through floodwaters,” according to the AP.

“She recalled startling awake around 1:30 a.m. as thunder crackled and water pelted the cabin windows,” the AP reported. “Lester was among the older girls housed on elevated ground known as Senior Hill. Cabins housing the younger campers, who can start attending at age 8, are situated along the riverbanks and were the first to flood.”

BREAKING: At least TWO of the girls missing from Camp Mystic after the flooding in Texas have been rescued

23 were originally reported missing from the Christian summer camp.

KEEP PRAYING! It’s working! pic.twitter.com/Ri0IborHmp

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 4, 2025

“The camp was completely destroyed,” Lester told the AP. “It was really scary. Everyone I know personally is accounted for, but there are people missing that I know of and we don’t know where they are.”

Her mother reportedly cried when she finally saw her daughter.

“My kids are safe, but knowing others are still missing is just eating me alive,” she told the AP.

The rescue effort is being guided by Gov. Greg Abbott.

“This is a time when we, as a state, need God more than ever,” Abbott said in a statement. “The one thing I hear the most are the prayers that are being sent for those who are in harm’s way. There is an extraordinary collaboration to make sure that we address everybody’s concern as quickly as possible

“Texas is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods,” the governor said during a Friday night press conference.

“I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas,” he added.

As night falls, numerous little girls are still missing after being washed away from a popular all-girls Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas. Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing as catastrophic flash flooding continues to have an impact… pic.twitter.com/mNnjlmqjQ7

— Faith Defender (@faithdefender) July 5, 2025

President Donald Trump meanwhile has vowed to offer federal support to the victims of the ongoing flood.

“It’s terrible, the floods, it’s shocking,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One late Friday. “They don’t know the answer yet as to how many people, but it looks like some young people have died.”

One young girl was thankfully rescued by helicopter after she was reportedly swept 12 miles downstream by the flood, but managed to climb onto a tree to survive.

“She went through 5 dams, fought with refrigerators, vehicles all kinds of debris while floating and trying to survive the river until she clinged on to the tree,” according to a Facebook post.