The people of Texas are crying for help amid the deadly flash floods that caused significant damage to residents and their livelihoods. Dozens have been killed, and many are still missing at the time of writing this story. The rescue operations are being done tirelessly to help people, as reports suggest that heavy rainfall could lead to more flash floods in the upcoming days.
Several cities across central Texas, especially between San Antonio and Austin, have been affected over the past weekend, which clashed with Independence Day on July 4, 2025. Many people have documented the devastating conditions of their houses and cars on social media sites and written about their struggles.
A 13-year-old girl, has also shared her horrible experience at Camp Mystic in Texas, where catastrophic flash floods on July 4 claimed the lives of at least 81 people statewide, including 27 at the camp. Stella Thompson had arrived at the Christian girls’ summer camp in the Texas Hill Country just a week prior. It was her sixth year attending the camp.
Alas, what began as a fun summer weekend filled with adventurous activities turned into an unimaginable night due to the rains that triggered deadly floods in the area. Thompson was staying in a cabin situated on higher ground near Cypress Lake. At the same time, other campers were located closer to the Guadalupe River, a place that was severely affected due to its rising water.
“We woke up to the sound of the storm outside. Power had gone out overnight, and the counselors told us to stay inside,” Stella told NBC affiliate KXAS. “Then we started hearing helicopters overhead. That’s when we knew this was serious.”
View this post on Instagram
Furthermore, as the rains turned scary, the entire cabin was reportedly praying as Stella’s cabinmates, who were staying near the river, had to be evacuated. “We were terrified — not for ourselves, but for everyone else,” Stella added. Hours later, God heard her prayers, and the little teen’s cabin was also evacuated safely.
However, Stella noted that it was the natural species that were left to die. “You’d see kayaks stuck in trees,” Stella recalled. “It was kind of horrific. It didn’t look like Camp Mystic anymore,” she added. Meanwhile, Stella Thompson’s mother, Casey Thompson, said she was overwhelmed with gratitude and sighed a sign of relief.
“We’re just so thankful Stella is safe,” she told KXAS. “But we also know that not every family got to bring their child home. That brings a mix of relief and deep sadness.”
The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas reached at least 78, including 28 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp continued and fears of more flooding prompted evacuations of volunteer responders https://t.co/cl8kU8XuIG pic.twitter.com/5gZybMbOJb
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 7, 2025
Kerr County officials confirmed that 68 of the 81 deaths statewide occurred in their area, including 28 children. Rescue teams continue to search for 10 missing campers and one counselor. According to authorities, the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, sweeping away vehicles and entire buildings.
Katharine Somerville, a counsellor on the Cypress Lake side of Camp Mystic, also spoke to the media and said that the 13-year-old campers were scared. She spoke to Fox News and recalled how the cabins were ruined entirely by water.
TEXAS FLOOD: A Meteorologist’s Perspective on the Camp Mystic Tragedy.
The flash flooding along the Guadalupe River has claimed over 80 lives, including many children at Camp Mystic. As a meteorologist, I want to share perspective on the atmospheric & communication factors… pic.twitter.com/CQOITuiCrk
— Bryan Bennett (@weatherbryan) July 6, 2025
Moreover, Reuters reported that the camp, which had 700 girls, saw how high the water had risen, reaching at least six feet (1.83 m) from the floor. Bed frames, mattresses, and personal items were covered in mud. A few buildings saw broke windows, and one even had a missing wall.
President Donald Trump offered his condolences to the victims and their families affected by the floods. He urged people that he would visit the area on Friday, and he had been in constant touch with Governor Greg Abbott.
“It’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible. So we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless, God bless the state of Texas,” he told reporters as he left New Jersey on July 7, 2025.
2025 truly seems to be a year of maximum devastation and catastrophe; from political wars in Iran to a massive earthquake in Myanmar to the unexpected Texas floods and a horrifying plane crash in India, this year has conceivably taught us to appreciate life a little more than usual. Our prayers go out to the families of the deceased. Stay strong and stay hopeful.
