As search teams continue working through the rubble, new survivor accounts from Camp Mystic reveal why so many young girls didn’t realize the danger until it was too late.
“We Were Told They Were Safe” — Survivor Speaks Out
Amelia Moore, 14, was among hundreds of campers caught in the July 4 floods that struck Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Amelia described waking around 2 a.m. to thunder and the sound of screams from younger girls in lower cabins.
But counselors, many under 21 themselves, told her and others not to panic.
“A lot of counselors had been here for so long they thought it was nothing,” Amelia said. “So they were like, ‘Just stay in the cabin.’”
Campers were assured that younger children housed in a lower area called The Flats had already been moved to safety, when in reality, at least 27 girls and counselors were battling for their lives.
No Food, No Phones, Stranded for Hours
Amelia said she eventually fell back asleep, only realizing the true scale of the disaster at 7 a.m. when her hilltop cabin was completely cut off by water and fallen trees. Camp rules banned cell phones, leaving the girls stranded and without updates.
“We were starving,” she said. “We were like, ‘Does anyone have food that they smuggled in? You won’t get in trouble.’”
According to Amelia, there was no adult leadership on the hill.
“No one on that hill was over 21 years old.”
The first helicopter evacuation didn’t arrive until 3 p.m., over 12 hours after the flood began.
Flood Struck Earlier Than Reported
According to officials, flash flood warnings with “catastrophic” potential were issued at 1:14 a.m. The water hit around 3 a.m., rising 26 feet in 45 minutes and engulfing cabins near the Guadalupe River.
Photos now show Camp Mystic buried in mud and debris. Cabins are shattered, and bunk beds are coated in thick layers of sediment.
120 Confirmed Dead, 173 Still Missing
As of Monday, at least 120 people across Texas have died in the floods, including 95 in Kerr County alone. Ten girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic remain unaccounted for.
All 14 girls and counselors from The Bubble Inn cabin are either dead or missing. Camp owner Richard “Dick” Eastland died while trying to rescue campers, his family confirmed.
Harrowing Stories from Across Texas
Among other survival accounts:
- Callie McAlary, 16: Recalled realizing the danger when lightning struck nearby and campers reported flooding.
- Piers and Ruffin Boyett: Two brothers from Camp La Junta swam out of their cabin after water reached the top bunk.
- Julian Ryan: The 27-year-old father of two died after suffering a severe arm injury while breaking a window to save his family.
- Glenn Juenke, Security Guard: Described throwing girls onto floating mattresses to keep them from drowning.
“Each of those sweet girls [were] cold, wet, and frightened, but they were also incredibly brave,” Juenke told CNN.
FEMA Response and Political Fallout
With 173 still missing, FEMA teams continue search efforts using helicopters, boats, and cadaver dogs. Texas lawmakers are calling a special session to address emergency alerts and flood readiness.
Some critics blamed slow alerts from the National Weather Service, but the White House has called those claims a “depraved lie.”
Trump and Melania Visit Survivors
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited Kerr County on Friday, offering prayers and meeting with affected families.
“These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy,” Trump said. “We will not stop until every single person is found.”
