Heat, humidity, and the emotional toll of search and rescue weigh heavily on many who find themselves involved not in the search, but in the recovery. Hundreds of government, professional and volunteer groups are participating in the search along the Guadalupe River for missing campers swept away during a flash flood on July 4 in Kerr County. Courtesy photo
KERR COUNTY — Kerr County has experienced its worst natural flood disas ter in recent history on the early morning of July 4. Along the idyllic Guadelupe River, devastation rocked the area as a rain-swollen river swept over its banks at a rate of 25 feet in about 45 minutes, with little time for campers along the river to evacuate, especially at the wellknown Camp Mystic campgrounds. It is reported that at least 27 Mystic Camp youth campers and counselors lost their lives, with 10 campers and one counselor still unaccounted for.
As of press time, the number of casualties, with Camp Mystic, has surpassed 100. Flood-related casualties have been reported in five other counties. Casual ties are expected to rise as search groups dig through the piles of debris down the stretch of the river. It has been reported that several rescue searchers were also swept away during rescue operations.
