by In one of the deadliest floods in Texas history, a mother’s worst fears turned into overwhelming relief when she reunited with her two sons, who survived the July 4 disaster at a boys’ camp near the Guadalupe River.
The catastrophic floods that swept through Central Texas have killed at least 120 people and left nearly 170 missing. Kerr County has been hit especially hard, with 27 children confirmed dead at Camp Mystic, a nearby all-girls Christian camp.
For Keli Rabon, the nightmare began with a sudden, alarming text about flooding at Camp La Junta in Hunt, Texas — where her sons Braeden, 9, and his younger brother Brock had arrived just a day earlier.
“There is truly nothing that could prepare you for a moment of uncertainty, which became hours of uncertainty,” Rabon told ABC News.
As the floodwaters rose rapidly, Camp La Junta lost power and cell service, making communication with the outside world impossible. Rabon, like many other parents, was left scrambling for updates.
“Once I saw the information coming in from Camp Mystic that had been posted online, it became clear that this was quite a dire situation,” she said. “I needed to just get to my boys as fast as I could.”
Inside the camp, staff acted quickly. Brock and other young campers climbed into the rafters of their cabin to escape the flooding, guided by teenage counselors.
“Thank goodness the counselors and counselors-in-training helped all the campers to the rafters,” Braeden said. “They’re kids, too — just high school grads. It’s just crazy.”
Camp director Scott Fineske led an emergency evacuation, moving the children to safety in town. When Rabon finally reached her boys, the moment was filled with raw emotion.
“It was a rush of all the emotions — from intense gratitude to seeing them, holding them as tight as I could,” Rabon said. “I tried my best to hold it together and not cry because I didn’t want to scare them anymore.”
Even in her relief, Rabon acknowledged the heartbreak surrounding other camps where families faced devastating losses.
“There was this immense sense of guilt and fright for the parents who wouldn’t be able to hold their children that night — and maybe ever again,” she said. “Words are not enough to express our gratitude for saving our sons’ lives.”
Camp La Junta owners and directors Scott and Katie Fineske later released a public statement:
“We are profoundly grateful that every boy at Camp La Junta is safe, yet our hearts are heavy. We grieve with the families of the Camp Mystic girls and with everyone affected by this tragedy, including our dear friends, Dick Eastland and Jane Ragsdale.”
Camp La Junta, established in 1928, sustained significant damage. But the Fineskes said they are committed to rebuilding and reopening for the 2026 summer season.
As Texas recovers from the unprecedented floods, families and communities across the Hill Country remain united in grief — and in gratitude for those who made it out alive.
