One year after the catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country, Fort Worth firefighters are reflecting on the tragedy that claimed more than 130 lives. The disaster occurred when heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to surge more than 26 feet in just 45 minutes, devastating several counties.
At Fort Worth Fire Department Station 2, an oblong gray rock in the foyer bears the painted text "Camp Mystic 7-4-25." Firefighter Shane Harmon displays a sticker on his helmet that reads "Cile," a nickname used by 8-year-old Cecilia Steward. Her parents gave him the sticker in August 2025 as a way to remember her letters from Camp Mystic. Harmon recalls searching the floodwaters for Cile and other campers.
The flood killed 25 campers and two counselors at the all-girls camp, along with its longtime director. Cile and 63-year-old Jeff Ramsey remain missing. Further details about ongoing search efforts or recovery operations are not yet clear.
