Just moments before floodwaters swept through the home where she was staying, 21-year-old Joyce Badon sent a heartbreaking final text to her family: \u201cWe\u2019re being washed away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the July 4th weekend, torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River in Central Texas to rise rapidly, flooding homes and camps. The water surged to the height of a two-story building in under an hour, devastating Kerr County and leaving at least 107 dead across six counties\u2014including dozens of children and camp counselors. Many remain missing.<\/p>\n
Joyce and her friends, Ella Cahill, Reese Manchaca, and Aiden Heartfield, were staying at a country house along the river when it was washed away. Joyce\u2019s father told CNN the last contact came during a call to Aiden\u2019s dad, which ended abruptly.<\/p>\n
Joyce\u2019s mother posted emotionally on Facebook, saying the group had no time to escape: \u201cA flash flood came through\u2026 they could not get in the attic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Search teams, including family, friends, and volunteers, scoured the riverbanks. Tragically, Joyce\u2019s body was found on July 7. Her mother later shared a tribute: \u201cWe found our lovely daughter who blessed us for 21 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reese\u2019s body was also recovered. Aiden and Ella remain missing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Just moments before floodwaters swept through the home where she was staying, 21-year-old Joyce Badon sent a heartbreaking final text to her family: \u201cWe\u2019re being washed away.\u201d Over the July 4th weekend, torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River in Central Texas to rise rapidly, flooding homes and camps. The water surged to the height of…<\/p>\n