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Before the sun came up on Friday, July 4, the Guadalupe River in Kerr County turned violent. What had been a familiar and comforting current — particularly to the campers tucked into their bunks at Camp Mystic, a beloved Christian girls’ camp in the Central Texas Hill Country — suddenly surged 25 feet. By dawn, entire cabins had been swept away.
By Monday morning, the death toll from the flooding had reached 82. At least 68 of those lives were lost in Kerr County. Among the victims: 28 children. Camp Mystic confirmed 27 of the dead were from its ranks — campers and counselors whose names are still being withheld out of respect for grieving families.
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Governor Greg Abbott, addressing reporters in a press conference, focused on the incalculable toll on families. “One of the most important things that we can do is to address their greatest concern, and that is, there are so many families that are still waiting to learn about their loved ones,” he said. “We are working 24/7 to get the information that will be able to answer their questions.”
Among those waiting for news are many residents from Fort Worth. Mayor Mattie Parker confirmed that “Fort Worth families [are] impacted specifically by missing girls at Camp Mystic.”
And the city — residents and civil servants alike — are stepping up to lend a helping hand.
On July 4, the day of the flooding, the city deployed 17 members of the Fort Worth Fire Department to assist in the search and recovery efforts, including divers and members of the department's swift water team.
And even Fort Worthians without such elite training, no matter their age or influence, are showing that, even when one feels helpless, there are still ways to support the effort. Corrigan Camp, who attended Camp Mystic just two weeks before the flood, and her brother Cannon, who went to a nearby boys’ camp, decided to set up a lemonade stand in their Fort Worth neighborhood, according to a Fox 4 News report. Corrigan also baked cookies — a nod to a camp tradition where cabin inspection winners are rewarded with the owner’s homemade sweets.
“It makes me feel very sad for the people that were at Camp Mystic,” Corrigan told Fox 4 News. “Everyone should help, and they’re being very generous to help us.”
The siblings plan to continue raising money, not just for Camp Mystic, but for the boys’ camp that also sustained flood damage.
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The outpouring of support has extended well beyond lemonade stands.
La Bistro Italian Grill, a 41-year-old fine-dining favorite in Hurst, made one of the most generous gestures in recent memory. From July 7–10, the Benouared family, which owns the restaurant, will donate 100% of every dollar — food, drinks, every menu item — to flood victims.
“Not just the profits. Not a percentage. ALL OF IT!” read the restaurant’s Facebook post. “I thought about our little ones and the parents who are now living every parent’s worst nightmare — and it brought tears to my eyes. I may not have the power to change what happened, but I do have the power to feed people.”
Reservations for the four-night fundraiser are only being taken by phone.
Meanwhile, across Tarrant County, others are stepping in where they can. Bartender Hannah Rucas announced she’ll donate 100% of her tips from a Tuesday night shift at Bush League Bar & Grill. “Come grab a cold one,” she wrote on Facebook. “Let’s show Kerr County some love — every little bit helps.”
Chef Jon Bonnell, a cornerstone of Fort Worth’s culinary scene, pledged that 10% of all sales from his restaurants — including Bonnell’s, Waters, Jon’s Grille, and Buffalo Bros — will go to vetted relief efforts supporting families and first responders. “Please continue to pray with us for all affected by this terrible tragedy,” Bonnell wrote.
The Salvation Army in Kerrville is now serving as the official volunteer coordinator. Teams from the United Methodist Church, Texans on Mission, World Central Kitchen, Operation BBQ Relief, and TEXSAR (Texas Search and Rescue) are already on the ground. Donations are being funneled through the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, and a dozen other trusted nonprofits.
