HUNT, TEXAS — A devastating flood has gripped Central Texas, with the Guadalupe River rising with alarming speed after more than seven inches of rainfall drenched the region since Thursday afternoon — the most rainfall in the area since the early 1990s.
In Hunt, where the river forks, waters surged past 29 feet before sunrise Friday, marking the second-highest crest ever recorded in that location. The sudden intensity of the storm caught residents and emergency officials off guard.
The National Weather Service had issued a flood watch for much of Central Texas Thursday afternoon, warning residents across several counties to remain vigilant. But the situation escalated quickly, prompting a series of urgent alerts and mobilizing emergency crews into action.
Hundreds of first responders were deployed — including 14 helicopters and numerous ground units — to search for the stranded and the missing, though flooded roadways made rescue efforts perilous. Officials have warned that the death toll is expected to rise.
“This is a tragic event. It’s going to be a mass casualty event,” said Freeman F. Martin, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, during a press briefing Friday afternoon.
Among the hardest-hit locations is Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian summer camp for girls on the banks of the Guadalupe. With cabins and facilities dating back to the 1920s, the historic site became ground zero for the rising floodwaters.
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick confirmed that Camp Mystic is in the process of contacting the families of campers who remain unaccounted for.
The current disaster has revived haunting memories of the deadly July 17, 1987 flood, when the Guadalupe River similarly swelled, taking lives and leaving behind a trail of devastation.
As Texas faces this heartbreak, the nation grieves — and stands in solidarity with the survivors.
