KERRVILLE, TX – A sudden, catastrophic flood along the Guadalupe River has upended life in this Texas Hill Country community, forcing the dramatic rescue of hundreds from a historic summer camp and leaving residents to face a daunting recovery.

• Rapid River Rise – Fueled by intense upstream rainfall, the Guadalupe River crested at 40.8 feet, more than 26 feet above its 14-foot flood stage, inundating the area with unprecedented speed.
• Dramatic Camp Evacuation – Nearly 450 campers and staff at the century-old Camp Mystic for Girls were evacuated as floodwaters submerged cabins, with some rescued from rooftops by helicopter.
• Widespread Community Damage – The flood has caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure throughout Kerr County, prompting a local disaster declaration and a massive cleanup effort.

The wall of water that surged through the Guadalupe River valley came with shocking speed, catching many by surprise. Now, as the murky water recedes, the full scope of the damage—and the community’s resolve—is coming into view.

How a “Wall of Water” Overtook a Century-Old Camp

For generations, Camp Mystic has been a landmark on the South Fork of the Guadalupe River. Early Wednesday morning, it became the epicenter of a crisis. Following torrential rains in the river’s headwaters, officials issued warnings, but the river rose faster than many anticipated. Eyewitnesses reported a sudden surge, a literal wall of water that quickly swamped the low-lying camp.

“It wasn’t a gradual rise. The river just exploded,” said one local first responder. “One minute the water was high, the next it was covering everything.”

The situation escalated quickly, trapping nearly 450 girls and counselors. Local emergency crews, aided by Texas Task Force 1 and National Guard helicopters, launched a large-scale rescue operation. Dozens of campers were airlifted from rooftops as the river raged below. All campers and staff were eventually accounted for and safely relocated to a temporary shelter at a local university, but the camp itself suffered devastating losses, with cabins and facilities washed away or destroyed. The question now facing camp leadership is how, or if, a 100-year-old institution can be rebuilt on a river that has shown such force.

Gauging the Damage in Kerrville and Beyond

While the dramatic scenes at Camp Mystic captured headlines, the flood’s impact extends throughout Kerrville and the surrounding county. The river’s crest of nearly 41 feet sent water into homes and businesses that had never flooded before. Roads and bridges were washed out, isolating some neighborhoods and crippling transportation.

Kerr County officials have issued a disaster declaration, a first step in seeking state and federal assistance. Initial damage assessments are underway, but the visual evidence is clear: silt-covered homes, debris wrapped around trees dozens of feet high, and a landscape fundamentally altered. Local business owners along the river, many dependent on summer tourism, are now calculating their losses and facing an uncertain season. The economic ripple effects, from lost tourism revenue to the cost of infrastructure repair, are expected to be significant for the region.

What Recovery Looks Like on the Guadalupe

In the flood’s immediate aftermath, the focus has shifted from rescue to recovery. Neighbors are helping neighbors muck out flooded homes. Volunteers have organized to distribute food, water, and cleaning supplies. The sound of chainsaws and pressure washers now echoes through the valley.

The path forward is complex. For residents, it involves navigating insurance claims, finding temporary housing, and making difficult decisions about rebuilding in a floodplain. For the county, it means a long-term, expensive effort to repair roads, bridges, and public utilities. The flood has prompted a difficult conversation in the community about development along the river and the adequacy of early warning systems for such rapid-onset events. As the people of Kerrville begin the arduous task of cleaning up, they are demonstrating a powerful sense of community, but also confronting the hard realities of living alongside a beautiful and dangerous river.