Texas Father Confirms Loss of Twin Daughters in Camp Mystic Flash Flood
On July 4, 2025, a catastrophic flash flood swept through Central Texas, leaving a trail of devastation and claiming over 100 lives, including at least 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a historic all-girls Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River. Among the victims were 8-year-old twin sisters, Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence from Dallas, whose father, John Lawrence, confirmed their tragic loss, leaving a community grappling with grief and searching for answers.
Camp Mystic, founded in 1926, has been a cherished summer destination for generations, hosting daughters of Texas’s elite, including former first lady Laura Bush, who once served as a counselor. Nestled in Kerr County’s Hill Country, the camp’s idyllic setting along the Guadalupe River turned deadly when torrential rains caused the river to surge over 20 feet in hours, flooding cabins and overwhelming the camp with little warning. The sudden deluge trapped hundreds, with some girls escaping through broken windows into neck-high water, while others, like Hanna and Rebecca, were not as fortunate. Their 14-year-old sister, Harper, was safely evacuated, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the family’s unimaginable loss.
John and Lacy Lawrence shared their heartbreak in a statement to FOX 4: “Hanna and Rebecca brought so much joy to us, to their big sister Harper, and to so many others. We will find ways to keep that joy, and to continue to spread it for them. But we are devastated that the bond we shared with them, and that they shared with each other, is now frozen in time.” Their grandfather, David Lawrence Jr., a noted Miami education advocate, echoed the sentiment, describing the twins as a source of boundless joy. The family’s grief reflects the broader anguish felt across Texas, where at least 104 people perished, including 28 children in Kerr County alone.
The tragedy has raised questions about preparedness and warnings. Survivors recounted chaotic scenes, with floodwaters carrying away cars and debris. Camp director Dick Eastland, 74, died heroically trying to save campers, as did 19-year-old counselor Chloe Childress, remembered as compassionate and beloved. Rescue efforts continue, with 10 girls and one counselor still missing, as volunteers comb through debris along the riverbanks. Texas officials, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, have pledged exhaustive search efforts, while some, like Rep. Chip Roy, have debunked false reports of rescues to curb misinformation.
As Central Texas recovers, the Camp Mystic tragedy underscores the vulnerability of even cherished institutions to nature’s fury. The Lawrence family, like many others, faces an uncertain path forward, holding onto memories of their daughters’ joy while mourning a bond forever altered by the flood’s merciless sweep.
Sources: The New York Times, FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, NBC News, CNN
