Video shows 200 children airlifted from flooded Missouri camp a year after Camp Mystic tragedy

LESTERVILLE, MISSOURI: Dramatic video released by the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters rescuing more than 200 stranded campers and staff from a flooded Missouri summer camp, exactly one year after the deadly Camp Mystic flooding in Texas killed 27 campers and counselors.

The footage captures children running toward waiting helicopters as floodwaters surrounded Camp Taum Sauk in Reynolds County on Friday, July 10. Officials said 202 campers and staff were safely airlifted from the campground after rapidly rising water made ground evacuation impossible.

Camp Taum Sauk campers rescued as flash floods inundate Missouri

The helicopter evacuation was carried out after severe storms dumped between 6 and 12 inches of rain across central, south-central and southeastern Missouri, triggering widespread flash flooding.

The campers, aged 8 to 16, along with counselors, were flown to safety and transported to St. Louis, where they were reunited with their families.

“We are beyond thankful for your help keeping our camp community safe," Camp Taum Sauk officials wrote on Instagram, thanking the Missouri National Guard, Reynolds County 911 emergency responders and the local Arcadia community for the rescue effort.

Founded in 1946, Camp Taum Sauk is a coeducational summer camp located near Lesterville, about 125 miles south of St. Louis.

Rescue comes exactly one year after Camp Mystic flood disaster

The dramatic evacuation came on the first anniversary of the Camp Mystic tragedy in Texas, where catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025, claimed the lives of 27 campers and counselors at the all-girls Christian camp.

The wider Texas Hill Country flooding killed at least 135 people, making it one of the deadliest flood disasters in the state's history.

While both camps were overwhelmed by dangerous floodwaters, the Missouri rescue ended without any reported fatalities among campers or staff, underscoring the impact of rapid emergency response and coordinated rescue operations.

Missouri flooding triggers hundreds of emergency rescues

The Camp Taum Sauk evacuation was part of a broader emergency response after Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency.

According to state officials, local emergency personnel carried out at least 351 swift-water rescues across flood-hit communities.

"Missouri's first responders once again answered the call with extraordinary bravery, professionalism, and compassion," Kehoe said in a statement.

Nearby, Bearcat Getaway campground also closed because of the flooding, with operators confirming that all campers and staff were safe and accounted for.

Authorities said at least one person has died in the Missouri flooding, while the National Weather Service warned that already saturated areas could receive an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain, increasing the threat of further flash flooding over the weekend.