Black Hawk military helicopters were deployed to airlift hundreds of children to safety from Camp Taum Sauk in Reynolds County, Missouri, as flash flooding engulfed the area. The emergency response came amid fears of a repeat of the deadly Camp Mystic disaster in Texas from the previous summer.
Torrential rainfall, described by forecasters as a once-in-a-millennium event, caused the Black River to swell, submerging roads and trapping approximately 200 campers and staff at the remote camp. By Friday afternoon, the Missouri Army National Guard began airlifting individuals to a nearby elementary school.
"It was very harrowing," Jennifer Box, whose two sons were at the camp, told The New York Times. "We knew they were safe, but we didn't know how to get to them, and that's kind of your worst nightmare."
The flooding began with powerful thunderstorms that repeatedly moved across the same region, a phenomenon known as "training." Locations across southern Missouri received between six and over 12 inches of rain, with the heaviest totals concentrated around Reynolds County. Flash flood warnings were issued shortly before midnight Thursday, escalating to a Flash Flood Emergency by Friday morning.
Camp staff initiated early evacuations on Friday morning, moving girls sleeping in low-lying cabins to the camp cafeteria. As waters continued to rise, campers were relocated again to higher ground near the camp's tennis courts. While waiting for rescue, the children engaged in activities like making friendship bracelets and playing board games.
Governor Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency and activated the Missouri National Guard, mobilizing specialized search-and-rescue teams. By late Friday, hundreds of people had been rescued from floodwaters, rooftops, trees, and stranded vehicles. Authorities warned that the Black River was forecast to crest at a level that would break previous records.
The flooding impacted areas beyond Camp Taum Sauk. At the Bearcat Getaway Campground, campers evacuated to a building's roof, which eventually collapsed. Emergency crews also rescued individuals stranded in trees along the Black River. Two rescue boats capsized, though all first responders were safely recovered.
The disaster also resulted in a fatality. Faith Gregory was found dead on Saturday, having gone missing when floodwaters swept her home from its foundation in Crawford County. Volunteers discovered her body approximately 1.8 miles downstream from her home.
Despite the frightening ordeal, some of the children described the helicopter rescue as an adventure. "When I first heard we were getting on helicopters, I was kind of scared," said 11-year-old Everett Box. "Then I kind of warmed up to it and was super excited to go on it."
Camp Taum Sauk expressed gratitude to the emergency responders for their efforts in ensuring the safety of the camp community.