Texas Floods Kill 120 Including 27 Camp Mystic Victims, Letters Arrive Families

In the aftermath of devastating flash floods in central Texas, heartbreaking letters written by young girls at Camp Mystic have begun arriving at their families’ homes. The camp, located along the Guadalupe River in the notorious "Flash Flood Alley," saw 27 girls and staff perish when the river surged over 26 feet in under an hour, contributing to over 120 deaths statewide and leaving more than 170 people missing. One notable letter came from eight-year-old Blakely McRory, whose grandfather received her note posthumously; her mother described her as a loving child, and the family expressed a desire to celebrate her life despite their grief. Families are also searching through debris for personal belongings, such as a stuffed monkey cherished by Mary Stevens, another victim. The tragedy is compounded by the double grief of families like Blakely's, who had recently lost a parent. The community continues to mourn while holding on to these poignant letters as symbols of the children's final moments and spirits.