Camp Mystic, the girls’ summer camp where state officials said more than 20 people remain unaccounted for, is located along a river that rose more than 20 feet in about 90 minutes overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

“Guadalupe River at Hunt continues to rise sharply and has reached 2nd highest height on record, higher than the 1987 flood,” the agency said on X Friday morning. “This is a very dangerous and life-threatening flood event along the river. Move to higher ground!”

Hunt, in Kerr County, saw about 6.5 inches of rain in just three hours early Friday — a 1-in-100-year event there, meaning it has about a 1% chance of happening in any given year.

Severe flooding in central Texas has left at least 13 people dead and more than 20 children unaccounted for, and the death toll is expected to rise as more rain flows though the hard-hit region Friday night.

Searches were underway and officials scrambled to rescue people from floodwaters on the Fourth of July after heavy rain deluged central Texas, overwhelming the Guadalupe River and prompting multiple flash flood warnings and emergencies.

“We could not anticipate this, despite flood warnings, despite everything going on, there were some things that happened very fast,” Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said Friday.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch early Thursday afternoon that highlighted Kerr County as a place at high risk of flash flooding through the overnight. A flash flood warning was issued for Kerr County as early as around 1 a.m. CT on Friday. A more dire flash flood emergency warning was then issued for Kerr County at 4:03 a.m. CT, followed by a one for Kerrville at 5:34 a.m. CT.

As others across the country attended parades, enjoyed fireworks and had barbecues, some Texas families mourned the loved ones they lost or waited for those missing to finally be found safe.

“There’s still several people unaccounted for right now, at this point, but we’re working really hard,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said Friday.

Here’s what you should know about the impacts of severe weather in Texas:

• More than 20 campers unaccounted for: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said about 23 girls are unaccounted for at Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp in Kerr County. He cautioned it “does not mean they are lost.” The mothers of campers Janie Hunt and Lainey Landry told CNN they have not yet heard anything about their daughters’ whereabouts. At least 14 helicopters, 12 drones and over 500 people from various units are rescuing adults and children out of trees near Camp Mystic.
• Rescues underway in Kerr County: First responders are focusing on finding and rescuing residents Friday afternoon before launching recovery efforts, Rice said. The Houston Fire Department said it is assisting first responders with rescues in Kerr County.
• Residents told to shelter in place: Residents of Kerr County should shelter in place as several agencies rush to perform search and rescue amid dangerous flooding in the area, Sheriff Leitha said. Many people have been forced to evacuate their homes, however, and may seek assistance at several shelters and reunification centers set up across the community.
• Multiple agencies activated to assist: The Texas National Guard, US Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency responded to severe weather affecting the Hill Country. The state’s primary search and rescue team has also been deployed to Hunt and Kerrville, the state military department said on X.
• President Donald Trump in contact with Texas officials: President Trump has made sure the message was sent that “whatever we need, we will have,” Patrick said. Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz also said they are in contact with state and local officials to ensure they have access to rescue and recovery resources.
• Rain continues in hard-hit areas: While the heaviest rain is starting to ease in the region, light to moderate rainfall will continue into the evening in some places, especially north and east of Kerrville.

The Houston Fire Department is assisting first responders nearly 300 miles away in Kerr County as rescues are underway in high flood waters.

Four members from the Tactical Deployment Unit and an engine will assist first responders, while another three firefighters will help the Texas A&M Task Force One.

“As we so often see help from around the state come to Houston when we face floods, we are proud to be able to support others in their time of need,” Houston Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz said Friday.

Video Credit: Lorena Guillén

Footage shows a helicopter rescue in Kerrville, Texas, near Howdy’s Restaurant, Bar and Grill, which is located along the Guadalupe River. A first responder and a person can be seen being carried away from a flooded area.

Mother of missing Camp Mystic camper Janie Hunt says she has not yet heard anything about her whereabouts after catastrophic flooding hit Kerr County on Friday.

“We are just praying,” Janie’s mother told CNN.

9-year-old Lainey Landry is also missing from the camp, according to her mother Natalie. She is “brave and sweet,” her mother tells CNN.

Texas Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz expressed condolences Friday for those who died as floods ripped through central Texas. In posts on X, the lawmakers said they are in contact with state and local officials to ensure they have access to rescue and recovery resources.

Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic.Today, I’ve spoken with Gov Abbott, Lt. Gov Patrick, the head of TDEM & President Trump.

Multiple helicopters are performing search & rescue. President Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs. 🙏🙏

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 4, 2025

Cornyn wrote his staff has “been in touch with local officials & emergency responders, and are working to make sure all resources needed are made available.”

The White House has called several times Friday, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said.

President Donald Trump has made sure the message was sent that “whatever we need, we will have,” he said.

As over 500 people are out searching for missing people in Kerr County, Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick promised families of missing campers they would “do everything humanly possible to find your daughter.”

“I want all of you to know we will do everything humanly possible. Twenty-four-seven, looking at every tree, turning over every rock, whatever it takes – if your child is one of those truly missing and not just out of touch – to find your daughter,” he said.

First responders are focusing on finding and rescuing residents Friday afternoon before launching recovery efforts, Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said.

“We are still actively trying to find those that are out and those that are needing assistance,” Rice said.

He said there are rescue teams at Camp Mystic, the girls’ summer camp where state officials said about 20 people remain unaccounted for.

“As we are going through the camps, we’re still trying to figure out where people are, what’s going on, and how to best serve them,” he said.

Flooding rose up unexpectedly in central Texas as preparations were underway for the July 4th holiday, Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said Friday.

“We could not anticipate this, despite flood warnings, despite everything going on, there were some things that happened very fast,” Rice said at a news conference.

The catastrophic flooding emergency overwhelmed the Guadalupe River after heavy rains hit the region. Around 3 a.m., the North and South Forks of the Guadalupe River hit their peaks.

“When those two rivers converged … it created obviously a large flood event,” Rice said.

The water level of the Guadalupe River rose up to a bridge in Kerrville within about one to two hours early Friday morning.

“It rose very quickly, very significantly,” Rice said.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch early Thursday afternoon that highlighted Kerr County as a place at high risk of flash flooding through the overnight. A flash flood warning was issued for Kerr County as early as around 1 a.m. CT on Friday. A more dire flash flood emergency warning was then issued for Kerr County at 4:03 a.m. CT, followed by a one for Kerrville at 5:34 a.m. CT.

The US Army Corps of Engineers are being sent to assess the dam at Canyon Lake, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Friday.

The Army Corps believes the dam will hold and is safe, Patrick noted, but there is more rain and potential flash flooding in the forecast in San Antonio, Austin and the Waco area.

The man-made lake is located in Comal County just northeast of San Antonio, spanning 8,200 acres with 80 miles of shoreline.

At least 13 people died in Kerr County, Texas, after severe flooding inundated the state on Friday, authorities said.

“There’s still several people unaccounted for right now, at this point, but we’re working really hard. And we’re going to continue. This is probably going to be a couple of day process,” Kerr County Sherrif Larry L. Leitha said at a news conference Friday afternoon.

Leitha said he expects more fatalities will be reported in the county.

Residents of Kerr County, Texas, should shelter in place as several agencies rush to perform search and rescue amid dangerous flooding in the area, Sheriff Larry Leitha said.

Many people have been forced to evacuate their homes, however, and may seek assistance at several shelters and reunification centers set up across the community.

At least 14 helicopters and 12 drones and over 500 people from various units are rescuing adults and children out of trees near Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said.

“We do not need any more personal helicopters. I know it’s been offered. We do not need more additional assets,” Patrick said.

In addition to the helicopters and drones in the air, Patrick said there are nine rescue teams swimming in the water.

There are currently “about 23” children unaccounted for at Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls that hosts about 750 kids overall, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said during a news conference Friday.

“That does not mean they’ve been lost, they could be in a tree, they could be out of communication,” he said.

Helicopter rescues are underway at Camp Mystic, according to a source familiar with the rescue operation. Multiple flights are rescuing children and counselors impacted by recent storms and relocating them to safer ground, the person said.

Helicopter rescue crews were on standby earlier in the day, but had to wait for inclement weather to clear before safely operating the aircraft, the person added.

The Texas National Guard is among the agencies responding to the severe weather conditions affecting the Hill Country. The state’s primary search and rescue team has also been deployed to Hunt and Kerrville, the state military department said on X.

The Texas National Guard was activated yesterday as part of a multi-agency response to severe weather conditions affecting the Hill Country. Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) helicopter search and rescue teams in Martindale deployed to Hunt and Kerrville, Texas. Our Service Members are… pic.twitter.com/MuT8abtyje

— Texas Military Dept. (@TXMilitary) July 4, 2025

“Our Service Members are working tirelessly to provide steady support throughout the Independence Day weekend — as long as it takes to get the job done,” the department said.

The US Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are assisting as well, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said on X.

It’s still raining in south-central Texas Friday afternoon, but the heaviest rain is finally starting to ease in the region. Light to moderate rainfall will continue into the evening for some places, especially north and east of Kerrville.

The flash flood emergency that covers a significant portion of Kerr County has been extended to 5 p.m. CT, according to the National Weather Service.

“Between 6 and 12 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible,” the NWS warned.

Flash Flood Emergency continues for Ingram TX and Hunt TX until 5:00 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/8XGywppmPi

— @NWSFlashFlood (@NWSFlashFlood) July 4, 2025

Separately, the flash flood emergency that includes much of Kerrville was also extended until 5 p.m. CT.

Flooding risks remain high across Texas’ Hill Country and Heartland this afternoon and evening, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in San Angelo.

While the heaviest rain has moved out, moderate rainfall continues in Mason and San Saba counties.

More heavy rain is possible later today, with a level 3 of 4 risk of flash flooding in the northwest Hill Country, including Kerr and Kendall counties. A flood watch remains in effect — meaning it’s key to stay alert and watch for additional warnings.

Video Credit: Mariyah Bonilla

Video from San Angelo, Texas, resident Mariyah Bonilla shows two officials rescuing a man holding onto a pole in a flooded street. Many emergency vehicles can be seen at the end of the inundated street.

San Angelo is about 150 miles northwest of Kerrville. Widespread rainfall of 4 to 6 inches, with some reports of over 10 inches, has fallen from San Angelo to Kerrville.