Catastrophic flash floods swept through central Texas on Friday, triggering a deadly 20-foot surge along the Guadalupe River that left at least 24 people dead and dozens still missing, including several girls from a nearby summer camp.

Scenes of devastation stretched across the Hill Country on Saturday morning, with local officials warning the death toll is likely to rise. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared a disaster in over a dozen counties, mobilizing more than 1,000 state responders and 800 emergency vehicles.

Search Underway for Missing Children After Summer Camp Flooded

Among the missing are at least 20 children attending Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls’ camp located near Hunt, just outside Kerrville. In a letter to parents, camp officials described “catastrophic level” flooding. While most campers have been accounted for, the camp confirmed that families of any missing children have been notified.

"This is a catastrophic flooding event in Kerr County," the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Over 300 Rescued, Entire Homes Swept Away

Emergency crews have rescued nearly 300 people so far, but with several parks and recreation areas lining the Guadalupe River, officials say the true number of affected individuals remains unknown. Photos from the scene show overturned vehicles, uprooted trees, and homes reduced to their foundations.

“It’s catastrophic,” said FOX Weather meteorologist Bayne Forney, reporting from the riverbank. “Entire homes have been swept away. What remains are only foundations and shattered debris.”

Flash Flood Wave Traveled Miles in Minutes

The flooding began after a cluster of slow-moving thunderstorms dumped 12–15 inches of rain across the San Angelo region late Thursday into Friday morning. Additional rainfall in the Guadalupe basin caused river levels to rise rapidly, creating a deadly surge.

At Kerrville, the river jumped 20 feet in just one hour. In Comfort, it surged nearly 27 feet in just 45 minutes, reaching levels not seen in nearly a century.

“We didn’t know this flood was coming,” Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said. “No one did.”

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a rare Flash Flood Emergency, urging residents from Center Point to Sisterdale to seek higher ground immediately, calling it a “particularly dangerous situation.”

Surrounding Counties Also Hit

San Angelo in Tom Green County reported over 100 emergency calls in a single hour, including water rescues and homes destroyed. In Brady, McCulloch County, widespread flooding led to numerous additional rescues.

As of Saturday, the slow-moving storm system had shifted east but continued to dump rain across Burnet, Williamson, and Travis Counties. Flash Flood Emergencies remain in effect, with rainfall rates reaching up to six inches per hour. Forecasters warn of the potential for another 2–5 inches on Saturday and localized totals of more than 12 inches.

Worst Regional Flooding in Nearly Four Decades

The event has drawn comparisons to the July 1987 floods, which killed over a dozen people along the same river. Officials now say Friday’s river crests have exceeded those historic levels.

The National Weather Service and NOAA have placed much of central Texas under a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk, with Flood Watches remaining in effect through Saturday evening.