KERR COUNTY, Texas – Camp Mystic has confirmed the deaths of 27 campers and camp counselors in the catastrophic floods on July 4, according to a statement on the camp’s website.
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly,” the statement read in part.
The camp, which is located west of Kerrville in Kerr County, was evacuated early Friday as the area received at least 10 inches of rain. At least 75 people have been killed in Kerr County.
As of Sunday night, 10 girls and one counselor are unaccounted for, according to Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha.
>> 75 dead, including 27 children, due to Kerr County floods, sheriff says
The camp said it had been in communication with state and local authorities to locate the missing campers and counselors.
Kerrville city officials will be holding a news conference at 10 a.m. to share updated details.
Longtime camp owner killed while trying to save lives
On Saturday, the Kerrville Daily Times confirmed longtime owner Richard “Dick” Eastland was killed while trying to save girls at the camp. Eastland’s nephew was the first to announce the death on Facebook in a post that has since been deleted or made unavailable.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly told the Washington Post that Eastland died in a helicopter on the way to a Houston hospital.
Campers reportedly saw Eastland as a father figure while they were away from home at Camp Mystic.
Evacuation captured on video by camp nurse
A nurse at Camp Mystic shared video of campers being evacuated Friday evening.
Devon Paige Williams told CNN she was part of the second to last group to be evacuated, with individuals closer to the river being considered “high-priority.”
Campers and counselors were evacuated on trucks by game wardens to a central location, where they were then placed on busses and taken to a reunification center.
In the video player below, you can hear the campers singing a popular camp song while looking onto the devastating flood damage.
‘It’s hard to put one foot in front of the other’
After evacuating, Camp Mystic employee Cassie Hyde reflected on the devastating flood.
“I’ve lost near friends, best friends, my boss, my godchildren, my house, my car,” Hyde said. “It’s those people that still haven’t been found — just praying for their recovery and everyone affected."
Hyde, the camp’s media coordinator, said that the outpouring of support for the campers and the Kerr County community has been incredible.
CONTINUING COVERAGE OF HILL COUNTRY FLOODS