Texas Flash Floods Kill 100 Including 27 Campers at Multiple Summer Camps

A devastating flash flood struck Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian girls' summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, during the early hours of July 4, killing over 100 people including at least 27 campers and counselors. The Guadalupe River rose rapidly, more than 29 feet in some areas, engulfing homes and campsites, with many victims caught unaware due to the lack of an effective warning system in Kerr County. Experts have noted that many camps, including Camp Mystic, are located in floodways and floodplains, areas of high risk that are often underestimated by outdated FEMA flood maps, highlighting broader issues with flood risk management in Texas. Climate change has been identified as a factor exacerbating the severity and frequency of such flash floods, with warming temperatures increasing atmospheric moisture and thus heavy rainfall events. The tragedy has renewed calls for improved infrastructure and emergency preparedness at summer camps nationwide, especially as climate change continues to increase the threats from extreme weather. Camp Mystic and other camps in the region are now grappling with the aftermath as families mourn and officials continue search and rescue operations.