As the death toll from the catastrophic flooding in Texas climbs past 80, harrowing accounts are surfacing of families torn apart, childhoods lost, and acts of unimaginable bravery in the face of disaster. Among the victims: young campers swept away in their sleep, beloved grandparents, and a father who sacrificed his life to save his family.

A Father’s Final Act of Heroism

Julian Ryan, 27, died a hero.

In the early hours of Friday morning, floodwaters surged into his family’s trailer home in Ingram, Texas. As the Guadalupe River rapidly rose by more than 20 feet, Ryan sprang into action. With water up to his chest, he placed his two children — a 13-month-old and a 6-year-old — on floating mattresses to keep them above the deluge.

When the bedroom door jammed shut under pressure, Ryan smashed a window to help his fiancée, their kids, and his mother escape. The glass severed an artery in his arm.

“There were multiple calls to 911,” said Christinia Wilson, Ryan’s fiancée. “But they didn’t answer. He looked at us and said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all.’”

His mother held him as he died, his sister Connie Salas told CNN. “He went out a hero,” she said. “Our last words were, ‘I’m scared.’ And he said, ‘Me too.’”

Flood Ravages Kerr County Campsites

In the darkness, the flood hit Camp Mystic — a Christian all-girls camp — with devastating force. Photos show torn-apart cabins, scattered mattresses, and entire walls ripped away by the water.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott described the camp as “horrendously ravaged.”

Twenty-seven campers went missing as the river overtook the area. By the weekend, the deaths of four girls had been confirmed:

• Renee Smajstrla, 8, was recovered Friday.
• Janie Hunt, 9, was confirmed dead by her mother Saturday.
• Sarah Marsh and Lila Bonner were also confirmed deceased by their families.

“We ache with all who loved her,” the Bonner family said in a statement. Alabama Sen. Katie Britt posted on Facebook that she was “heartbroken” over Sarah Marsh’s loss.

Sisters Lost, Grandparents Still Missing

Sisters Blair, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, were among those killed in the floods. Their father confirmed their deaths Saturday.

“Blair was a gifted student and had a generous kind heart,” he said. “Brooke was like a light in any room… she made people laugh.”

Their grandparents, Charlene and Mike Harber, remain missing and are presumed dead.

Beloved Camp Director Swept Away

Jane Ragsdale, longtime co-owner and director of Heart O’ the Hills camp, was also killed. Her camp wasn’t in session, but she was on site when the floodwaters came.

Ragsdale was known as the “heart and soul” of the girls’ camp and left a legacy of mentorship and music. A recent video showed her singing “Let There Always Be A Song” with campers. The lyrics now echo with new meaning: “When you sing you say, life is good today. So keep singing till we meet again.”

A Community Mourns a Coach and His Wife

Reece Zunker, head boys soccer coach at Tivy High School, and his wife Paula also died in the floods.

Zunker was remembered as “a mentor, teacher and role model” in a tribute from the school’s team. His niece confirmed his death on Saturday. The couple’s two children remain missing.

A Life of Service Cut Short

Dr. Katheryn Eads, a dedicated psychologist and college professor, was among the victims.

“She was an incredible wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, and person who spent her life helping kids,” her daughter Victoria Eads said in a statement. “Trying to figure out our lives without her is a possibility we never planned to face.”

As rescue operations continue across central Texas, the scale of the tragedy is still unfolding. Survivors and families now face the difficult task of grieving — and rebuilding — in the wake of one of the deadliest flood disasters in recent Texas history.

Source: CNN – A father who died saving his family, children at summer camp, a loving grandmother: The faces of the Texas flooding tragedy

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Rising Death Toll as Central Texas Battles Devastating Floods

At least 82 people, including 28 children, have died in the devastating floods that struck Central Texas beginning on July 4, according to local officials. The tragedy is far from over, with dozens still missing and weather forecasts warning of continued flash flooding into Monday.

Emergency crews remain on high alert as rescue efforts stretch across multiple counties. Torrential rain has overwhelmed rivers, swamped rural communities, and turned summer camps into disaster zones.

Kerr County Hit Hardest: Children Among the Dead

Kerr County has been the epicenter of the disaster, with at least 68 fatalities, officials confirmed Sunday night. Among the dead are 28 children, many of whom were attending Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp nestled along the Guadalupe River.

During the peak of Friday’s storm, the river surged over 20 feet in under two hours, catching many off guard. First responders have described the conditions as among the most dangerous they’ve encountered in recent memory.

Additional Fatalities Reported Across Central Texas

The storm’s impact extends well beyond Kerr County. Other counties reporting fatalities include:

• Travis County (includes Austin): 6 confirmed deaths

• Burnet County: 3 fatalities

• Kendall County: 2 deaths

• Williamson County: 2 deaths

• Tom Green County: 1 death

Officials caution that these numbers could climb as rescue teams continue to search flooded areas and damaged infrastructure.

Flash Flood Warnings Extend Into Monday

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an extended flash flood watch for large portions of Texas Hill Country, including Austin, San Antonio, Kerrville, and nearby towns. The alert remains in effect through late Monday.

Forecasts predict an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain, with isolated pockets receiving up to 10 inches.

“Any additional heavy rainfall will lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding,” the NWS warned in an early Monday alert. “It remains difficult to pinpoint exact locations where heavier rainfall may occur.”

Emergency Services Urge Caution as Flood Risk Continues

Local emergency management teams are urging residents to stay indoors, avoid flooded roadways, and heed evacuation orders as conditions remain volatile. Flash floods, they warn, can escalate with little notice—especially in already saturated areas.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with helicopters, boats, and volunteer teams working around the clock.

A Disaster Still Unfolding

What began as a Fourth of July weekend celebration has turned into one of the deadliest flood disasters in recent Texas history. Officials are now focused on accounting for the missing, supporting survivors, and assessing the long-term damage to communities already reeling from loss.

As the Hill Country braces for more rain, families across Texas are left mourning—and hoping the worst has finally passed.

Stay Informed

For real-time updates on flash flood warnings, evacuation zones, and emergency alerts, visit the National Weather Service at weather.gov or follow @NWSSanAntonio on X.

Source: CNN –

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Rescuers continued a grim search across central Texas on Saturday as at least 51 people were confirmed dead and 27 girls remained missing following catastrophic flash floods that tore through Kerr County and surrounding areas.

The dead include 15 children, many swept away when floodwaters surged through Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River. Authorities say more than 850 people have been rescued in the past 36 hours.

Flash Flood Hits Overnight, Catches Camps and Residents Off Guard

The flooding struck shortly after midnight Friday, when the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, turning popular campgrounds into death traps. Homes, roads, and vehicles were submerged or destroyed as water rapidly engulfed the area.

In Kerrville, officials described the scale of the disaster as historic, with uprooted trees, wrecked cabins, and entire communities cut off. The riverbanks, lined with long-standing youth camps, were especially crowded due to the July 4th holiday weekend, complicating efforts to track who may still be missing.

“We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice.

Camp Mystic Devastated as Parents Search for Children

The heart of the tragedy is Camp Mystic, where dozens of young girls were caught in the storm. Elinor Lester, 13, described the chaos as cabins flooded in the night.

“A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary,” she said.

Rescuers guided campers across a submerged bridge using ropes. One confirmed victim is an 8-year-old girl from Alabama, another the director of a neighboring camp.

Online, frantic parents posted photos and pleas for help locating missing loved ones. As of Saturday evening, no updated figure had been given for the total number still unaccounted for.

Was There Enough Warning?

Officials are now facing questions about whether there was sufficient advance warning to evacuate camps and riverside homes. Both AccuWeather and the National Weather Service said they issued flash flood warnings hours before the flooding began.

“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic,” AccuWeather said in a statement, pointing to the Hill Country’s well-documented vulnerability to sudden floods.

Despite the alerts, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said no one anticipated the storm’s intensity:

“We know we get rains. We know the river rises. But nobody saw this coming.”

Neighboring Camps Took Precautions — Some Evacuated

Other camps in the region were more fortunate. Mo-Ranch Camp relocated several hundred campers to higher ground in advance. Organizers at Camps Rio Vista and Sierra Vista also posted weather updates the day before ending their summer sessions.

The terrain in Texas Hill Country—known as “flash flood alley”—is infamous for its runoff-prone limestone soil and low water crossings, increasing the danger during heavy rain.

Austin Dickson of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which is collecting donations, said, “When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil—it rushes down the hill.”

Emotional Stories of Survival and Loss

Across the region, harrowing survival stories are emerging.

In Ingram, Erin Burgess and her teenage son clung to a tree for nearly an hour after water inundated their home.

“My boyfriend and dog floated away,” she said. “We found them—but it was terrifying.”

Elsewhere, Barry Adelman’s family, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson, fled to the attic of their three-story home.

“I had to look my grandson in the face and tell him it was going to be OK… but I was scared to death.”

Massive Search and Rescue Effort Underway

Search crews have been working around the clock, using helicopters, drones, and boats to locate survivors and recover victims. Coast Guard aircraft have enabled operations to continue even after dark.

Gov. Greg Abbott declared Sunday a day of prayer and pledged full support, as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and federal agencies deployed additional resources.

“We’re looking in every possible location,” said City Manager Rice.

A Community Begins to Grieve—and Rebuild

While some families have reunited at an elementary school reunification center, many are still searching. Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram ISD, said, “We’ve had a little success, but not much.”

From above, Judge Kelly saw the devastation firsthand during a helicopter tour.

“The rescue has gone as well as can be expected. It’s getting time now for the recovery. And that’s going to be a long, toilsome task for us.”

The county had previously considered installing a siren-based flood alert system but abandoned the plan due to cost concerns. Now, many are wondering whether lives could have been saved.

Key Stats at a Glance:

• Confirmed dead: 51 (including 15 children)
• Still missing: At least 27 girls from Camp Mystic
• Rescued: Over 850 people
• Hardest hit: Kerr County and surrounding Hill Country communities
• Current conditions: Continued rain, flash flood warnings remain in effect

Source: AP News – Texas floods leave at least 51 dead, 27 girls missing as rescuers search devastated landscape

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