Texas floods claim the life of an 18-year-old counselor remembered for her courage and compassion

Chloe Childress was known for lifting others up. This weekend, during Texas’ catastrophic floods, she lost her life doing just that.

The 18-year-old, who had just graduated from The Kinkaid School and was preparing to attend the University of Texas at Austin, was working as a counselor at Camp Mystic in Hunt when deadly floodwaters surged through the area on Saturday.

The Guadalupe River rose a staggering 26 feet in just 45 minutes—swift and unforgiving. As water engulfed the campgrounds, Childress was one of at least 11 people at Camp Mystic killed in the devastation. In total, 80 people are now confirmed dead across Texas, including 28 children—most of them in Kerr County, where the camp is located.

Jonathan Eades, the head of The Kinkaid School, remembered Childress not just as an outstanding student and leader, but as someone who deeply impacted those around her.

“She had a remarkable way of making people feel seen,” he wrote in a letter to the school community. “Chloe made space for others to feel safe, valued, and brave. She understood what it meant to be part of a community—and more than that, she helped build one.”

That legacy of compassion and courage was tragically cut short over the Fourth of July weekend. Floodwaters tore through Kerrville and surrounding towns, sending vehicles and debris crashing into parks and neighbourhoods. In Hunt, home to several summer camps lining the Guadalupe River, the deluge hit with devastating speed.

Camp Mystic, where 750 girls had been attending sessions, was among the worst affected. Officials say dozens were briefly unaccounted for after the water surged. Most have since been located, but the names of those lost—like Childress—have shaken the community to its core.

“She lost her life upholding this selfless and fierce commitment to others,” Eades said. “A loyal and beloved friend to all who knew her, Chloe led with empathy. Her honesty gave others the courage to speak up. Her resilience helped others push through. Her joy… reminded all who knew her to keep showing up with heart.”

In high school, Childress stood out not just for her academics but for her sense of purpose. She served as co-president of the school’s honour council, ran varsity cross country, and even launched a club dedicated to supporting senior citizens. She had been planning for college, her future bright with ambition and integrity.

Those who knew her say her final act—working with young girls in a summer camp setting she loved—was the purest expression of who she was. She was there not for prestige or recognition, but to serve, mentor, and uplift others.

The scale of the flooding stunned even veteran emergency crews. The National Weather Service confirmed that the river hit its second-highest point on record, surpassing the historic flood of 1987. Search-and-rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night, saving hundreds clinging to trees and rooftops.

But for many, including the families of the victims, the rescue came too late.

As tributes pour in for Childress, her story now stands as one of heartbreaking loss and extraordinary grace. In the face of chaos, she lived her final moments with the same purpose that defined her young life—showing up for others, no matter the risk.

And though the river has receded, the memory of what was lost—and what Chloe gave—will not fade from Hunt, from Houston, or from the hearts of all she touched.