A heart-wrenching tragedy is unfolding in the Texas Hill Country, where flash floods swallowed a beloved Christian summer camp, leaving at least two young girls dead and over 20 more still unaccounted for.
Renee Smajstrla, just 8 years old, and Janie Hunt, 9, were confirmed dead Friday night following an urgent, all-night search-and-rescue effort near Camp Mystic, a century-old girls’ retreat perched along the Guadalupe River. The rising waters surged with such fury that they swept entire cabins off their foundations, dragging sleeping children into the torrent in the dead of night.
As many as 25 campers are still missing, feared lost in the murky floodwaters or stranded across the rugged terrain near the town of Hunt, northwest of San Antonio.
“We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday,” Renee’s uncle posted on Facebook, sharing a photo of the smiling child just hours before disaster struck. “She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic. Please continue to pray for the other families.”
The statement, both grieving and grateful, hints at the unimaginable shock hitting dozens of families who had entrusted their children to what was supposed to be a safe haven filled with songs, crafts, and faith.
Janie Hunt, whose mother told CNN Friday that the family had received no updates since the floods began, was also confirmed among the dead, according to Corpus Christi Crónica. The two girls were among nearly two dozen campers aged 7 to 17 caught in the chaos when the Guadalupe River, swollen by relentless rain, surged more than 20 feet in just 90 minutes—levels not seen since 1987.
That historic flood also ended in tragedy, killing 10 teens when a church bus was swept away in the same region.
No Warning. No Time. No Escape.
A flood alert was issued at 4 a.m. Friday—hours too late. Most of the campers were asleep, and the campgrounds lacked a formal early warning system, according to Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly.
By the time emergency alerts blared, the river had already breached its banks, turning the tranquil camp into a churning death trap.
Governor Greg Abbott confirmed late Friday that the statewide death toll from the floods had climbed to 24. He stopped short of revealing whether more of the missing campers were among the deceased, citing ongoing search efforts.
Photos from the scene show overturned cabins, shattered bunk beds, and soggy backpacks strewn across the soaked landscape. Several girls were reportedly rescued and transported to reunification centers, but no official numbers have been released.
Rescue efforts continued into Saturday morning, even as rainfall persisted across Hill County. Officials warned of more flash flooding in the 24 to 48 hours ahead, extending from San Antonio to Waco.
A Camp for Texas’ Elite, Now a Site of Horror
Founded over 100 years ago, Camp Mystic has long been considered a prestigious rite of passage for young girls across Texas, including daughters of the state’s political elite. Its location—once seen as idyllic and serene—has become a source of anguish and fury.
Parents, many of whom paid thousands for the summer experience, are now asking why more wasn’t done to protect the children. Why wasn’t there a proper evacuation plan? Why no sirens, no alerts, no barrier between their daughters and the deadly river?
“We just want answers,” one mother posted online while waiting at a reunification site. “This should never have happened.”
The National Weather Service called the flooding “catastrophic” and warned that more isolated storms could trigger additional flash floods in the coming days.
A Community Clings to Hope
As the death toll rises and families continue to pray, Texas remains on edge. For those still searching for their children, time is running out—and hope is the only thing left to hold onto.
In the words of one grieving family member: “The river took our girl, but it will never take her spirit. She was joy, light, and laughter—and Camp Mystic will always be her happy place.”
But as rescue crews dig through wreckage and scan the riverbanks, Texas asks itself: how many more children will be found too late?