Texas Flooding Strands Campers, Worse Than 1987 Tragedy
The recent flooding of Texas’ Guadalupe River has left a significant impact, particularly on an all-girls Christian camp, and is proving to be more severe than a tragic incident from 1987 that resulted in the deaths of 10 teenagers at a church camp.
On July 16, 1987, an unforeseen thunderstorm intensified by a cold front unleashed nearly 12 inches of rain over Hunt, Texas, causing chaos among campers who were not prepared for the sudden deluge.
Once again, this past Friday, campers near the river faced an emergency evacuation as water levels rose to 29 feet, an alarming surge of 25 feet within just 45 minutes, as reported by the National Weather Service.
During this event, over 300 campers from various churches were staying at the Pot O’ Gold Ranch, including a group of 43 from Seagoville Road Baptist Church and Balch Springs Christian Academy, as commemorated by a plaque at the ranch’s entrance.
With the water continuing to rise, campers were loaded onto their buses and caravans around 7:45 a.m. on July 17. Water levels extended from Ingram to Comfort, Texas, reaching nearly a mile beyond the river’s usual boundaries.
As the evacuation began, water encroached upon the camp’s exit, necessitating an alternative escape route. However, not all vehicles managed to get away safely.
The last bus in the line, carrying Seagoville Road Baptist Church members, along with a small van, became immobilized in the floodwaters, according to the National Weather Service.
Leaders attempted to evacuate the teenagers from the vehicles, but were met with a fast-moving wall of water, nearly half a mile wide, as they tried to move towards safety.
In a desperate effort to stay together, the group formed a human chain, but the force of the current quickly separated them.
Tragically, ten teenagers were swept away in the flooding, including Melanie Finley, who tragically fell while trying to escape, as reported by local sources.
The remaining 33 campers and staff members clung to treetops until they were ultimately rescued by the Texas Department of Safety, U.S. Army personnel, and a local news crew.
Since the catastrophic flood of 1987, minimal additional safety precautions have been implemented.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly stated during a press conference that the region lacks a warning system and was unprepared for Friday’s deluge.
Currently, approximately 23 girls from Camp Mystic have not been located after their cabins were swept away. Rescue teams are actively searching for them and other potential survivors.
As of now, local authorities have reported 13 fatalities attributed to the flood.
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