Father's Heartbreaking Search for Missing Daughter After Texas Flood
When floodwaters surged through a summer camp in Central Texas, the tranquil lives of children enjoying their vacation were abruptly shattered. Michael McCown rushed from Austin to the Hill Country upon hearing about the flooding that swept through Camp Mystic, where his eight-year-old daughter, Linnie, was staying in the Bubble Inn cabin among the youngest campers.
Flash Flood Hits Camp Mystic, Leaving Dozens Unaccounted For
The relentless rains began early Friday, rapidly swelling the South Fork Guadalupe River and nearby creeks. The floodwaters overwhelmed the camp, leaving about two dozen girls missing, including Linnie, and claiming the life of the camp director, Richard “Dick” Eastland, who heroically tried to save the children.
As the search continues, families like McCown’s cling to hope amid heartbreak.
Personal Items Mark Sites of Devastation
Visiting the flood-ravaged camp, McCown wove through a landscape littered with broken tree limbs and soggy belongings—stuffed animals, charm bracelets, and photos stuck to cabin walls. With 14 girls still unaccounted for inside the Bubble Inn cabin alone, he sought mementos to offer each family, a small gesture of connection amid the chaos.
“I’m just going to walk and look for something,” he said, determined to find any sign of Linnie.
Floodwaters Surged Swiftly, Trapping Children
The camp, nestled just beyond the town of Hunt, was transformed overnight. Water from the Guadalupe River and a nearby creek converged around the Twins and Bubble cabins, creating a swirling current likened to a "toilet bowl".
Eastland Jr., son of the late director, explained how the floodwaters climbed nearly six meters within just 20 minutes. Many campers scrambled to higher ground, climbing rock faces barefoot in the dark, while camp staff and seasonal workers did their best to shepherd children to safety.
“We’ve never seen water rise like this,” Eastland Jr. reflected, shaking his head in disbelief.
Community Responds Amid Tragedy
Rescuers combed through the riverbanks and campgrounds, trying to locate survivors and recover those lost. Fathers and grandparents gathered, sifting through soggy belongings left behind: towels, shampoo bottles marked with names, shoes.
Wearing rain boots and University of Texas burnt orange, McCown's determined search took him along the river for nearly a mile until he spotted a girl in the water. Though it was not Linnie, his hope persists that she remains out there somewhere with her friends.
Nearby, other parents also searched, some lost in quiet despair. One man showed McCown a photo of a missing child he was trying to identify, but it was not his daughter either.
A Community United in Grief and Hope
The aftermath at Camp Mystic is a sobering reminder of nature’s sudden force and the fragility of life. The Eastland family, who managed the camp for generations, had turned the property into a sanctuary fostering growth and faith. Their legacy—and that of every child lost or missing—echoes profoundly in this hill country landscape.
As the search extends into uncertain days ahead, families like McCown’s continue to courageously navigate grief, clinging to the hope of reunion amid the harsh realities posed by the flood’s destructive sweep.
