Extreme flooding in Central Texas left at least 13 dead, and at least 20 girls missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls camp along the Guadalupe River.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a press conference on Friday afternoon that there were 13 confirmed fatalities resulting from the torrential rains that hit in the morning.
As many as 12 inches of rain have fallen in the county over the course of the day, with additional rainfall anticipated this evening, local station ABC 7 reported Friday afternoon.
Kerr County and neighboring Kendall County remain under a Flash Flood Warning until Saturday.
As rain continues to fall, a desperate search is underway for those who may have been swept away by the floodwaters.
“There’s still several people unaccounted for,” Leitha added.
Camp Mystic, located in Hunt, Texas, has around 750 campers; at least 20 girls are unaccounted for, according to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
“That does not mean they’ve been lost,” Patrick said on Friday afternoon at a press conference. “They could be in a tree. They could be out of communication. We’re praying for all those missing to be found alive.”
Patrick said during a press conference that the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes.
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Camp Mystic welcomes girls once they’ve completed second grade. In the Guadalupe River camp group, girls can enroll in one of three sessions, each lasting either two or four weeks. The sessions run from May 30 to August 10, with dates divided across the summer.
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On Facebook, parents and community members have circulated flyers with contact numbers, urging the public to help locate the missing children.
An 8-year-old from Dallas is among the missing. Her mother told WFAA News on Friday evening that she was traveling to reach the camp.
The Kerr County Sheriff’s Department said on Facebook that it was responding to a “catastrophic flooding event.”
“Our Office is working with a wide variety of local and state agencies to respond to calls and rescues,” the department wrote on Facebook.
“The entire county is an extremely active scene. Residents are encouraged to shelter in place and not attempt travel. Those near creeks, streams, and the Guadalupe River should immediately move to higher ground.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.