Breakthrough at Camp Mystic: Thermal Drones Uncover Survivors and a Hidden Secret

HUNT, Texas, August 5, 2025 — In a dramatic turn of events at Camp Mystic, the Christian girls’ summer camp devastated by catastrophic flooding on July 4, thermal drones detected three heat signatures inside a collapsed warehouse near the Guadalupe River, sparking a frantic rescue operation. Just hours ago, a team crawling through the debris found four girls—alive but shaken—huddled together in the wreckage. But the discovery didn’t end there. The girls, all aged 8 to 10, had concealed something unexpected, a finding that has stunned rescuers and added a new layer of mystery to the ongoing search for survivors of the Texas Hill Country floods that claimed 27 lives.

The Warehouse Discovery

The breakthrough came early on August 5, when drones equipped with thermal imaging, deployed as part of the ongoing search for five missing campers, picked up three distinct heat signatures inside a collapsed warehouse on the outskirts of Camp Mystic’s 700-acre grounds. The warehouse, used to store camp equipment like canoes and archery supplies, was partially destroyed when the Guadalupe River surged to 37.5 feet, fueled by 10 to 15 inches of rain from Tropical Storm Barry. The structure, located near the low-lying “Flats” where cabins like Bubble Inn and Twins were obliterated, had been considered too unstable for thorough searches until advanced drone technology pinpointed signs of life.

Rescue teams, including members of the Texas Game Wardens and Coast Guard swimmer Scott Ruskan, who previously saved 165 campers, navigated the precarious rubble. Inside, they found four girls: two 8-year-olds, a 9-year-old, and a 10-year-old, all from the Bubble Inn cabin, where 15 campers and two counselors perished. The girls were dehydrated and malnourished but alive, having survived 32 days in the wreckage. They were immediately airlifted to a hospital in San Antonio for treatment. Their identities have not been released, but authorities confirmed they were among the five campers still unaccounted for, leaving only one girl and an adult male missing in Kerr County.

The Hidden Secret

As rescuers tended to the girls, they noticed the group was protective of a small, mud-caked bundle wrapped in a Camp Mystic T-shirt. Initially, responders assumed it was a personal belonging, perhaps a stuffed animal or keepsake, like those found scattered across the camp’s ruined cabins. But when pressed, the girls reluctantly revealed they had been hiding a collection of items: a counselor’s journal, a set of friendship bracelets, and a water-damaged Bible, all belonging to Chloe Childress, an 18-year-old counselor who died saving campers. The girls, led by 10-year-old Lucy Kennedy, explained they had kept the items hidden to honor Chloe, who had stayed with them during the flood, shielding them until she was swept away.

The journal, filled with Chloe’s notes about her campers’ progress and personal reflections on faith, was clutched tightly by Lucy, who said, “Chloe told us to hold onto hope, and this was her hope.” The bracelets, woven during camp craft sessions, bore the names of the Bubble Inn girls, a testament to the bonds forged in the cabin. The Bible, marked with Chloe’s handwritten prayers, was found tucked inside the journal, its pages warped but intact. The girls had concealed these items from debris and potential looters, fearing they would be lost forever in the chaos of the recovery efforts. This poignant act of preservation has struck a chord with the Camp Mystic community, highlighting the courage and loyalty of its youngest survivors.

A Glimmer of Hope Amid Tragedy

The discovery of the four girls is a rare moment of hope in a tragedy that has gripped Texas and beyond. The July 4 flood, one of the deadliest in the state’s history, killed at least 120 people across Central Texas, with 27 deaths at Camp Mystic alone, including camp director Richard “Dick” Eastland, who perished saving campers. The camp, a nearly century-old institution run by the Eastland family, was a haven for 750 girls aged 7 to 17, offering activities like kayaking, archery, and spiritual devotion. Its low-lying cabins, particularly Bubble Inn and Twins, were devastated when the Guadalupe River and Cypress Creek overflowed, trapping the youngest campers.

The girls’ survival for over a month is nothing short of miraculous. Authorities believe they may have accessed rainwater and food scraps from the warehouse, though details remain unclear. Their discovery follows a mother’s mysterious phone call from her missing daughter’s phone on August 5, which redirected search efforts downstream. The thermal drone breakthrough, combined with this earlier clue, underscores the critical role of technology in the search, which has involved over 1,700 responders, 14 helicopters, and 11 drones.

Questions and Resilience

The find has reignited questions about Camp Mystic’s preparedness. The camp’s emergency plan, approved just days before the flood, directed staff to move to higher ground, but the speed of the deluge—rising 22 feet in two hours—overwhelmed these measures. Critics have pointed to the lack of a river alarm system and the camp’s location in a known flood zone, with some buildings exempted from FEMA’s 100-year flood map. The absence of cell phones for campers and limited access for counselors further complicated communication. Yet, stories of heroism, like that of counselor Ainslie Bashara, who saved 16 girls, and now the four survivors’ protection of Chloe’s belongings, highlight the camp’s enduring spirit.

The Camp Mystic community, including alumni like Laura Bush and families of political elites, is rallying around the survivors. Funds like the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and memorials for victims like Janie Hunt and the Lawrence twins are supporting recovery efforts. Social media is abuzz with prayers and tributes, with posts noting the emotional weight of the girls’ discovery and their hidden treasure. The journal, bracelets, and Bible are being preserved for Chloe’s family, a small act of closure in a tragedy that has left deep scars.

A Path Forward

As the search continues for the remaining missing camper and adult, the discovery of the four girls and their hidden keepsakes has galvanized the Camp Mystic community. The warehouse, once a footnote in the camp’s sprawling grounds, is now a symbol of survival and sacrifice. Governor Greg Abbott, who vowed to “stop at nothing” until all are found, praised the rescue teams and drones for their precision. The girls’ story, particularly their devotion to Chloe’s memory, has resonated deeply, with former camper Lauren Lindley noting, “The bonds at Mystic are a knot that can’t be untied.”

For now, the focus remains on the survivors’ recovery and the ongoing search. The items hidden by the girls—Chloe’s journal, bracelets, and Bible—will be returned to her family, a testament to the courage of the “littlest souls” who survived against all odds. As Texas mourns, the discovery in the collapsed warehouse offers a bittersweet reminder of the resilience and love that define Camp Mystic, even in the face of unimaginable loss.