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

Identities are continuing to be revealed for those who died and remain missing following the tragic flooding in Texas this week.

At least 24 people have died in Kerr County, and one person has died in Kendall County, after the catastrophic floods hit central Texas on Friday, July 4, according to CNN. The same day, 237 people were rescued, mostly by helicopter, Texas officials said.

During a July 4 press conference, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick spoke about how the flood affected Camp Mystic — a Christian girls-only summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River — and over a dozen campers were still unaccounted for.

The uncle of one of the missing girls, 8-year-old Renee Smajstrla, confirmed that she had been found dead to The Washington Post on Saturday, July 5. Before confirming her death to the outlet, Renee’s uncle, Shawn Salta, shared an emotional Facebook post announcing the camper’s death.

“Thank you to all our friends and family for all the prayers and outreach,” Salta wrote alongside a photo of his late niece. “Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly.”

“We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday,” he continued. “She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic. Please continue to pray for the other families in Kerrville.”

PEOPLE has reached out to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) for an update on the remaining missing campers.

Speaking with NBC DFW, the family of Joni Kay Brake and Robert Leroy Brake Sr. said their loved ones remain missing after they were visiting their son at an RV park along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville.

“They were just down there yesterday fishing and enjoying the night,” grandson Ryan Brake told the outlet.

“We’re all hoping for the best and praying big at this point, we are putting it in God’s hands.
added Brianna Newton, the couple’s granddaughter.

Reece Zunker, his wife Paula and their two children also remain missing after the July 4 floods, The Kerrville Daily Times reported.

According to the outlet, loved ones said the family of four was vacationing at a river house in the nearby area of Hunt.

Flooding in the Guadalupe River, where Camp Mystic is situated, caused it to reach its second-highest height ever, ABC affiliate Eyewitness News reported. The area received at least 10 inches of rain, per San Antonio outlet KSAT.

“This may be a once-in-a-lifetime flood,” Clint Morris, a Kerr County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, told KSAT. He added that it was “an extremely active scene, countywide.”

After the flooding, there was an overnight evacuation of Camp Mystic, KSAT previously reported.

Directors at the Kerr County camp reportedly asked for help, according to the San Antonio Express-News. The directors also said that the camp cabins were flooded and may have been washed away.

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On July 4, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management W. Nim Kidd told reporters, per Forbes, that ahead of the fatal floods, the National Weather Service (NWS) significantly underestimated the precipitation the affected areas were set to receive.

“The amount of rain that fell in this specific location was never in any” of the agency’s forecasts, Kidd said, in part. “Nonetheless … we have resources that have been surrounding this area since yesterday. When the rain fell, and the calls came in, we immediately jumped into action.”

In an official statement, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state “is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods.”

“The State of Texas today has mobilized additional resources in addition to the resources sent in preparation for the storms,” he continued. “I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas.”