A sigh of relief swept through Georgia’s 1st Congressional District Sunday as U.S. Representative Buddy Carter confirmed his granddaughters were safe following the catastrophic flash floods that tore through Kerr County, Texas, over the weekend.
They had been attending Camp Mystic — a serene, private girls’ summer camp on the Guadalupe River — when the river turned violent. By nightfall, it became the epicenter of search-and-rescue operations after waters surged beyond anything residents or first responders had seen in decades.
Camp Mystic Hit Hard as Floodwaters Rise Fast
What started as a typical warm July afternoon turned into sheer chaos at Camp Mystic.
By mid-morning, rainfall intensified. By noon, riverbanks had disappeared.
Within a few hours, the camp was under siege from fast-moving floodwaters, and multiple cabins were submerged.
Emergency alerts were issued. Still, with roads washed out and communications strained, chaos reigned.
One moment the girls were singing hymns and braiding friendship bracelets — the next, they were being rushed to higher ground in silence and fear.
20 Campers Initially Missing, Panic Grips Families
The early hours were the worst. Emergency responders reported 20 girls unaccounted for.
Buddy Carter, a long-serving Georgia Republican and grandfather of two campers, broke the news in a social media post that quickly spread.
“Please join me in prayers for Texas,” he wrote, expressing concern not just for his granddaughters but for every missing child. “We must ensure that they have the resources they need to find those still missing and save lives.”
Camp Mystic, known for its rustic cabins and spiritual programming, sits along a notoriously flood-prone bend of the Guadalupe.
By Sunday morning, rescuers confirmed all but a few campers had been located.
Texas Emergency Crews Scramble Through Mud and Debris
The response was swift, but the terrain made things brutally hard. Helicopters hovered, boats maneuvered fallen trees, and K9 units searched cabin ruins.
For many responders, it brought back memories of the 2002 flood in the Hill Country — but this time, it was worse.
• Over 10 inches of rain fell in under 4 hours — equal to nearly four months of rainfall for the region.
The National Weather Service had issued flash flood warnings, but locals say the water moved faster than expected, swallowing roads and knocking out power.
The images were gut-wrenching — cots floating downriver, prayer journals stuck in fences, and young girls wrapped in emergency blankets, barefoot and stunned.
Toll Mounts as Families Await Word
As of late Sunday, nearly 60 deaths had been confirmed across Texas, with dozens more still missing — many from rural Hill Country counties.
Kerr County officials say damage assessments are ongoing. Preliminary numbers suggest $300 million+ in infrastructure losses, with roads, bridges, and private homes among the hardest hit.
Here’s a quick breakdown of current casualty and rescue stats from the Kerr County Emergency Office:
| Incident Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Confirmed Deaths | 59 |
| Still Missing | 32 |
| Rescued Campers | 318 |
| Evacuated Residents | 4,200+ |
| Estimated Damages ($) | 310 million |
Governor Greg Abbott has since mobilized the Texas National Guard and declared a disaster zone across seven counties. FEMA support is expected to follow.
Carter Family Thankful But Focused on Bigger Picture
Back in Georgia, Carter’s office said the family was shaken but immensely grateful. His two granddaughters, aged 11 and 14, were safely reunited with their mother on Saturday night.
The congressman, usually quick with political statements, kept things short and personal this time. He emphasized the broader tragedy.
“It could have been any of us,” a family aide said. “They’re counting blessings — but they’re also mourning with other families.”
Local churches in Savannah and Brunswick have already planned prayer services.
One grandmother, who didn’t want her name used, said she cried tears of joy — and guilt — when she heard Carter’s grandkids were safe. Her own niece was still missing.
Weather Whiplash and Summer Camp Safety
Climate experts have been sounding the alarm about Texas’ unpredictable weather swings. This week’s flooding was a brutal example.
Camp Mystic, which dates back to 1926, has long operated near the water but now faces hard questions.
Parents are asking: How were protocols missed? Could more have been done?
Some critics say camps should shift locations away from rivers. Others argue this was an anomaly — a “1-in-1,000-year flood” that no one could fully plan for.
Still, Texas Department of State Health Services says it’ll conduct a full review of all affected camps.
Meanwhile, other youth camps across Texas — both religious and secular — have paused operations to reevaluate emergency procedures.
Survivors Return Home to Hugs and Headlines
By Sunday night, busloads of tired, damp, and tear-streaked campers returned to airports and family vehicles.
Social media overflowed with photos — kids wrapped in towels, staffers smiling through exhaustion, parents holding handwritten “Welcome Home” signs.
Carter’s granddaughters, seen in a blurry photo at Dallas Love Field airport, were among them — smiling weakly, hugging their mom tight.
They didn’t speak to reporters. No one expected them to.
