Camp operators across Texas' Hill Country were scrambling this week as floodwaters surged through the region, reviving memories of the catastrophic July 4, 2025 floods that killed 138 people, including 25 girls and two counselors at Camp Mystic near Hunt. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings Wednesday and Thursday as rivers swelled, prompting camp directors to activate emergency protocols honed after last year's tragedy.
Heightened Vigilance After 2025 Disaster
Kathy Ragsdale, who co-founded Camp Stewart for boys in Hunt 60 years ago with her late husband, said the experience of last summer has made everyone in the camp community hyperaware. Her son now runs the facility. “After last summer, everyone is super vigilant and hypersensitive,” Ragsdale told KXAN by phone this week. “We were fortunate, but we had probably an 8-to-9 foot river rise. It’s going down now, but the low bridges still should not be crossed.”
Camp Stewart's buildings remained dry, and all campers were accounted for, she added. However, a KXAN crew attempting to reach the camp was turned back by high water and road closures, underscoring the ongoing dangers. The flooding this week closely mirrors the pattern of the 2025 storm, which overwhelmed riverbanks in Kerr County and other areas, claiming 119 lives in that county alone.
Broader Regional Impact
The floods have not been confined to camps. Texas Game Wardens conducted helicopter rescues of children in Uvalde County as waters rose, and at least two deaths have been reported across the region. Hundreds of residents were evacuated as emergency crews worked around the clock. The response comes as the region still grapples with the aftermath of last year's disaster, which prompted calls for better flood warning systems and infrastructure improvements.
Climate change is increasingly cited as a factor in the frequency of such extreme weather events. Recent data shows that climate concerns now top affordability as the primary reason Americans move between states, a trend that may influence future policy debates in Texas and beyond.
Political and Policy Repercussions
The flooding has also drawn attention to election security and disaster preparedness. Senator Markwayne Mullin has escalated threats against states that fail to secure election systems, warning of consequences for noncompliance. Meanwhile, the D.C. Circuit Court reinstated a Pentagon rule requiring journalists to be escorted by military personnel, a decision that dealt a blow to a New York Times lawsuit and could affect how future disasters are covered.
As the waters recede, camp operators like Ragsdale are already planning for the next storm. “We’re just glad everyone is safe,” she said. “But we know we can’t let our guard down.” The Hill Country's camp community remains on edge, ready to respond if floodwaters return again.
