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A young girl was dramatically rescued after being swept 12 miles downstream during the devastating floods that have ravaged central Texas, killing at least 24 people and leaving dozens still unaccounted for. The unidentified girl was photographed clinging desperately to the branches of a tree as the raging rapids surged beneath her. She was later safely recovered by emergency crews, according to News 4 San Antonio.
“That poor girl!” one user wrote. Another added, “Our prayers are with our neighbors throughout the Hill Country and all of the emergency crews dealing with today’s deadly flooding in central Texas.” Another harrowing video captured the moment a helicopter airlifted a flood victim to safety, illustrating the scale and intensity of the rescue operations underway across the region.
Kerr County has been particularly hard hit, with fast-moving floodwaters decimating local summer camps and displacing dozens of children. Officials say over 20 girls were initially reported missing from a camp in the area, prompting a massive, ongoing search-and-rescue mission.
Texas Floods Claim 24 Lives as Dramatic Rescue Efforts Continue
In a press conference Friday, state officials confirmed that 24 lives have been lost so far in the unprecedented flooding, and that next of kin are still being notified. A total of 237 people have been rescued to date, including 167 individuals who were lifted out by helicopter. Rescue efforts have involved 30 boats and 167 off-road vehicles, and are expected to continue through the night and into the coming days. “We’ll be here for days to come,” said DPS Director Freeman Martin. “This won’t end. Tomorrow is going to be a very important day.”
Officials initially forecasted 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, but the region was overwhelmed by as much as 14 inches in some areas, catching both residents and emergency services off guard. The Department of Homeland Security has since joined the coordinated response, with eight helicopters scheduled to support rescue and recovery operations.
Emergency Responders Remain on High Alert
Among those confirmed dead is eight-year-old Renee Smajstrla, whose family shared the heartbreaking news on social media. Her uncle, Shawn Salta, posted a photo of Renee smiling with friends just one day before the tragedy, writing, “We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life… She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.”
Heart O’ the Hills, another camp in the flood zone, also confirmed a tragic loss. Camp director and co-owner Jane Ragsdale died in the floods, the organization announced in a statement. “We are mourning the loss of a woman who influenced countless lives and was the definition of strong and powerful,” the camp wrote. As photos and names of the missing continue to circulate online, concerned families and communities across Texas are holding out hope for more rescues.
With floodwaters showing no signs of receding, and more rain possibly on the way, emergency responders remain on high alert in what has become one of the deadliest natural disasters to strike Texas in recent memory.
