What Happened

What Happened

On the morning of July 4, 2025, Central Texas—especially the Guadalupe River in Kerr County—was struck by catastrophic flash flooding after 5–11 inches of rain fell within hours. In just 45 minutes, the river surged over 20–26 feet, sweeping away homes, cabins, campers, and vehicles The Texas Tribune+15Wikipedia+15Chron+15.

Casualties & Missing Persons

• At least 129 people have died statewide, including over 96 in Kerr County alone; approximately 170 people remain missing KSAT+8Wikipedia+8The Texas Tribune+8.

• Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp by the Guadalupe, lost 27 campers and counselors, with six still unaccounted for, including Virginia “Ginny” Hollis, age 8 The Texas Tribune+13Wikipedia+13WSLS+13.

• The missing from Camp Mystic include four other 8‑year‑old girls: Kellyanne Lytal, Ellen Getten, Abby Pohl, plus 19‑year‑old counselor Katherine Ferruzzo The Daily Beast+15Chron+15MySA+15.

Response & Investigations

• Search-and-rescue operations involve over 2,100 responders, including the Coast Guard, National Guard, drones, boats, and dogs—all working around the clock People.com+15TIME+15MySA+15.

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott has deployed state assets and called a special legislative session to address flood preparedness The Watchers+5UPI+5Wikipedia+5.

• Questions arise about insufficient flood warning systems in Kerr County, despite prior requests for funding since 2017—without sirens or real-time stream gauges The Texas Tribune+7Houston Chronicle+7The Times+7.

❤️ For the Hollis Family & HP Community

The loss of Virginia Hollis has sent ripples of grief through the HP family and beyond. Her memory, and that of the other young victims, are being honored by both mourners and rescue teams. The ongoing search offers a glimmer of hope for the missing, and each effort is a step toward healing