Twenty-seven campers and counselors were killed by raging floodwaters over the weekend in Central Texas.
A flash flooding disaster in 1987 mirrors the horrific event in Central Texas over the weekend that killed more than 80 people, including 27 young campers and their Christian summer camp counselors.Why It Matters
On Friday, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued urgent warnings to people across Central Texas amid heavy downpours that resulted in months’ worth of rain at once, prompting the Guadalupe River to surge 25 feet in only 45 minutes.
More than a foot of rain lashed the region before the river flooding on Friday afternoon, National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist James Wingenroth told Newsweek. The downpours caused rivers to surge with little advance notice. Floodwaters inundated Central Texas, sweeping away an RV park with families still inside their vehicles.
More than 80 people have died, and search-and-rescue missions continue on Monday as the region is anticipating up to 10 inches of rainfall throughout the day at some locations.What to Know
On Friday, floodwaters rushed through Camp Mystic, creating perilous evacuation conditions in which girls were instructed to hold onto a rope to cross a bridge as floodwaters surged past their knees, The Associated Press reported. Helicopters brought some of the girls to safety, but 27 people died, Camp Mystic confirmed on Monday, including some of the young campers.
