Texas Floods: Camp Mystic Search Continues as Mothers Share Relief and Trauma
A desperate search is underway for missing campers following devastating flash floods in Central Texas, with at least 24 confirmed fatalities and 23 to 25 girls unaccounted for from Camp Mystic, an all-girls camp near the Guadalupe River. Amidst the ongoing rescue efforts, one mother has shared her profound relief after her daughters were safely recovered.
One parent, identified as Serena Aldrich, expressed her gratitude and relief to NewsNation, stating she is “grateful” and “blessed” that her daughters, ages 12 and 9, were unharmed. “They’re glad to be home and worried about their friends,” she said, adding, “They are strong.”
Guadalupe River Swells to Historic Levels
The catastrophic flooding, triggered by up to 10 inches of rainfall, overwhelmed the area surrounding the Guadalupe River. By Friday morning, the river in western Kerr County had reached 29 feet – the second-highest level ever recorded. Several cabins at Camp Mystic were flooded, with others completely washed away, and surrounding roads rendered impassable. The region was under a flash flood warning when the deluge hit.
Flash floods are the nation’s leading cause of storm-related deaths, underscoring the extreme danger posed by these rapidly developing events.
Harrowing Escape from Camp Mystic
According to Aldrich, her daughters received no warning before the flooding began. Her 12-year-old, located on “Senior Hill,” was awakened by lightning and thunder. Her 9-year-old was alerted by a friend as water began entering their cabin.
“My 9-year-old on the flats was woken up by a friend, water coming into the cabin, and their counselors saved all those girls’ lives,” Aldrich recounted. “They broke windows to get them out the back of the cabin and back towards cabins that line up towards an embankment that goes all the way up to Sky High, where the Mystic sign is. And the girls ended up climbing all the way to Sky High. Half of them had no shoes on, but they were safe.”
The girls were ultimately evacuated by helicopter – a second helicopter ride for Aldrich’s daughters – and later transported by bus to Ingram Elementary School. Aldrich confirmed she knew her daughters were safe by 9 a.m. on Friday.
A Community Impacted by Tragedy
Aldrich’s daughters knew some of the girls who remain missing, as they were among the youngest or first-year campers. The emotional toll of the disaster is compounded by the fact that Aldrich and her sister both have personal connections to Camp Mystic, having attended as a child and served as a counselor, respectively.
“I’m praying for those parents of the girls who are unaccounted for,” Aldrich said, adding that she wishes she could undo the traumatic experience for her own children.
Rescue efforts have been extensive, with officials reporting that 237 people have been rescued so far, including 167 by helicopter.
The situation remains fluid as search and rescue teams continue their work, and the community grapples with the aftermath of this devastating natural disaster.
