8-Year-Old Camper Dead, Grandparents and a Family of 4 Remain Missing, as Texas Flooding Victims Continue to Be Identified

Authorities continue to identify the victims of the devastating flash floods that struck Central Texas on July 4, leaving at least 25 people dead and dozens missing. According to CNN, 24 fatalities have been confirmed in Kerr County and one in neighboring Kendall County. Over 230 people were rescued, many by helicopter, as emergency teams responded to rapidly rising floodwaters.

At a press conference on Independence Day, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick addressed the disaster’s impact on Camp Mystic — a Christian girls’ summer camp located along the Guadalupe River. Over a dozen campers were initially reported missing after the flood swept through the campgrounds.

One of the young victims, 8-year-old Renee Smajstrla, was confirmed dead by her uncle, Shawn Salta, who shared the heartbreaking news in a Facebook post before speaking with The Washington Post.

“Thank you to all our friends and family for all the prayers and outreach,” Salta wrote. “Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely helped first responders identify her quickly. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.”

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office has not released an official update on the remaining missing campers.

Several other families are also awaiting news of missing loved ones.

Joni Kay Brake, 66, and her husband Robert Leroy Brake Sr., 67, were visiting family at an RV park in Kerrville when the floodwaters struck. Their grandson, Ryan Brake, told NBC DFW, “They were just down there yesterday fishing and enjoying the night.” The family is holding on to hope, he added.

Brianna Newton, the couple’s granddaughter, said, “We are putting it in God’s hands.”

Another family still unaccounted for includes Tivy High School coach Reece Zunker, his wife Paula, and their two young children. According to The Kerrville Daily Times, the Zunkers were vacationing at a river house in Hunt, a nearby community.

Flash floods pushed the Guadalupe River to its second-highest recorded level, fueled by more than 10 inches of rain in some areas, according to local ABC affiliate KSAT. The storm overwhelmed Camp Mystic, damaging or washing away cabins and prompting an overnight evacuation.

Clint Morris, a spokesperson for the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, described the situation as “an extremely active scene, countywide,” adding, “This may be a once-in-a-lifetime flood.”

Texas officials acknowledged that the storm’s intensity was largely unforeseen. W. Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, stated that the rainfall totals far exceeded forecasts from the National Weather Service. “The amount of rain that fell in this specific location was never in any of the agency’s predictions,” he said.

Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement confirming that the state had mobilized additional emergency resources across the region. “Texas is providing all necessary support to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, and the entire Texas Hill Country,” he said. “I urge Texans to follow official guidance and avoid traveling through flooded areas.”

Search-and-rescue operations remain underway as communities continue to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster.