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Camp LaJunta & Camp Mystic [Staff Warning on OP]

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OE_Ag11
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In reply to FireAg • 8:41p, 7/5/25
AG
Pretty dang good. Have had the same one on our golden and our labradoodle and all the lake, pool, and beach days haven't hurt them so far. Replace the batteries every 6 months or so.

Based on Bluetooth and such so not sure how it would work without the parents phone out there that they are paired to since they are not shared tracking through multiple account. Would have to be some feature that would be added by apple for law enforcement, but don't know if they would because of privacy concerns.
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MsDoubleD81
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In reply to DargelSkout • 8:43p, 7/5/25
AG
I went to camp there in the 70s!
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Badace52
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In reply to Walter E. Kurtz • 8:44p, 7/5/25
AG
Walter E. Kurtz said:
She was at Camp Longhorn. Awful news


Tried to DM you this but it wouldn't let me.

Sorry to ask but my son is supposed to start at Camp Longhorn on Inks Lake tomorrow. After what we went through with Hazel were are pretty hesitant but he really wants to go.

Are you saying that the girl was evacuated from that Camp Longhorn on Inks or another one and was the family at the RV park close by on Inks?
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Tejas Ag
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In reply to STL_aTm • 8:44p, 7/5/25
AG
I would go and help do the same if you think there is an area they'd allow the help. Just another set of eyes and body walking sections
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dubi
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In reply to TAMUallen • 8:44p, 7/5/25
AG
TAMUallen said:
dubi said:
I read somewhere they didn't want tons of folks walking through the rescue area so the dogs wouldn't have so many scents to process.


Aren't those cadaver dogs though?
I think this was speaking of the search dogs, but again you never know whether what you read is 100% (or even 10%) correct.
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Tejas Ag
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In reply to swimmerbabe11 • 8:45p, 7/5/25
AG
Me too!
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ChoppinDs40
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8:46p, 7/5/25
AG
Catching up today. Awful. I know two people with girls that were confirmed gone today.

Unbelievable. Young professional, highly successful men. I can't imagine what they're going through.

My heart is crushed for these families.
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JeremiahJohnson
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8:47p, 7/5/25
AG
I over analyze everything. I spent all night thinking about what I would have done if I was still a camper at LaJunta. I spent every summer there from the age of 6 to 18. I'm nearly 40 now so it was a while ago. Spoke to a few people with family members there that escaped.

I think when I send my son to LaJunta in a few years god willing, packing an emergency life vest and Epirb would not be out of the question.
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lazuras_dc
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8:48p, 7/5/25
AG
Wonder if having a Garmin inreach and trigger the SOS would have been helpful for locating even after the fact.


What a difficult decision for the camp counselors who are probably not much older than college age kids themselves ! Feeling so helpless and having the lives of these kids relying on you. What a call to ride it out in a cabin on a floating mattress and risk the building getting swept up or get out and find higher ground before it's too late ?? Frightening. Prayers for everyone involved.
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saysomethin
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8:49p, 7/5/25
AG
Went back this AM after picking son up last night. We made it all the way to La junta. And walked the opposite side of the river upstream. Complete warzone.

We started about 7 and buddy took the high water mark to check for trees folks and I took low looming though the snags. Every clothes item we found was Heart of the Hills item. Blessing that camp was closed for the week. We found 4 suvs on other side and none had been marked with the yellow That search was marking them with. All had the passenger or sun roof busted open so hopes that they made it out.

The size of the trees uprooted and even standing g one that were cleaned to the bone…no bark, branches , or leaves all the way up..was staggering. Y'all know those trees, absolute monsters. Dead pools of fish everywhere. Kayaks, Bibles, tools, you name it.

We did not find anyone but I'm amazed so many have been found so far. Needle in a haystack.

Feeling extremely lucky boy is safe and daughter was not at Mystic yet. And also guilty for friends not as lucky.

We reached out to counselors and thanked them for being smart and decisive with their efforts. God Bless em.

Like I said, we got there very early and were shocked we saw no one for awhile. Then all of a sudden the cavalry arrived. Every piece of equipment you've seen and not seen showed up. Wardens thick. We spoke to them when we crossed back over and the first group was helpful and nice saying they had a big meeting to chart off what group went where. They had their spots picked out to search.

We left and went out the back way and saw some team over near the horse corral at La Junta. Heard later they may have found someone in the adjacent pasture.

Unreal weekend. Praying for a few more miracles tonite and tomorrow. And for all ti be found and pulled eventually.
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DuncanAg
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In reply to Badace52 • 8:49p, 7/5/25
AG
None of the Camp Longhorn locations were evacuated and all start as scheduled tomorrow for 3rd Term. We are sending our boys to Indian Springs (6th year and 2nd year) tomorrow, albeit with a heavy heart. One of the Mystic girls missing is from our neighborhood...I just can't even imagine.

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Badace52
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In reply to DuncanAg • 8:53p, 7/5/25
AG
Thank you. We still might be starting late if at all.
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Picard
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In reply to AgLiving06 • 8:55p, 7/5/25
AG
AgLiving06 said:
I wonder how far away we are from air tagging kids at camps (or in general)?


I started doing this last summer for our kids at church camp since no electronic devices are allowed. Works quite well because all of the counselors have phones. It's detailed enough to be able to see exactly which cabin they're in and I have an extraction plan already in place.

My wife thought I was crazy…..until yesterday.
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Guitarsoup
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In reply to lazuras_dc • 8:55p, 7/5/25
AG
lazuras_dc said:
Wonder if having a Garmin inreach and trigger the SOS would have been helpful for locating even after the fact.


What a difficult decision for the camp counselors who are probably not much older than college age kids themselves ! Feeling so helpless and having the lives of these kids relying on you. What a call to ride it out in a cabin on a floating mattress and risk the building getting swept up or get out and find higher ground before it's too late ?? Frightening. Prayers for everyone involved.
Garmin InReach would have helped, but the kids would have had to sleep with it attached to them. Also expensive at $400 MSRP. I use it for hiking/sailing. I can't imagine sending a 8yo to camp with one.
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austinag1997
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In reply to Badace52 • 8:56p, 7/5/25
AG
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OE_Ag11
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In reply to OE_Ag11 • 8:57p, 7/5/25
AG
Add one more that I just found, and I would bet the SAR teams may be using already. The devices all work off low energy Bluetooth signals which they send out when pinged. Turns out there is an android app that finds any device or tags near you.

https://github.com/seemoo-lab/AirGuard?tab=readme-ov-file

Leav it here incase anyone needs it
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gratitudeandacceptance
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8:57p, 7/5/25
The VFW in Startzville opens at 8 tomorrow to take donations. Latest needs are bleach and sanitizing supplies. Even just boxes help with packaging supplies.

Startzville VFW Post 8800
7755 FM 2673, Canyon Lake, TX 78133
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lazuras_dc
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In reply to Guitarsoup • 8:59p, 7/5/25
AG
Guitarsoup said:
lazuras_dc said:
Wonder if having a Garmin inreach and trigger the SOS would have been helpful for locating even after the fact.


What a difficult decision for the camp counselors who are probably not much older than college age kids themselves ! Feeling so helpless and having the lives of these kids relying on you. What a call to ride it out in a cabin on a floating mattress and risk the building getting swept up or get out and find higher ground before it's too late ?? Frightening. Prayers for everyone involved.
Garmin InReach would have helped, but the kids would have had to sleep with it attached to them. Also expensive at $400 MSRP. I use it for hiking/sailing. I can't imagine sending a 8yo to camp with one.


People above were spitballing what could send with their kids like an emergency self inflating life jacket or whatever so I was just thinking for those that already have an inreach, it may be an option to send with kid. realize not everyone's gunna want to go out and purchase something like this and pay a subscription as a contingency item. But just a thought.
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RedHand
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In reply to ChoppinDs40 • 8:59p, 7/5/25
AG
I can only imagine the heart ache of going through life sacrificing to make the right decisiona in life only for your most prized possessions to be taken from you. My heart goes out to those parents
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AgLiving06
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In reply to powerbelly • 9:08p, 7/5/25
powerbelly said:
AgLiving06 said:
I wonder how far away we are from air tagging kids at camps (or in general)?

I just keeping thinking that if even 1 of those kids had something like that on them, we could have pinpointed where they are pretty quickly.
They have to be near an iphone. They wouldn't have been any real help.

Maybe not an airtag specifically, but I'm sure there's something out there that doesn't require being near an iphone, but simply having 5g service.

If not, there should be at least!
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austinag1997
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In reply to AgLiving06 • 9:09p, 7/5/25
AG
AgLiving06 said:
powerbelly said:
AgLiving06 said:
I wonder how far away we are from air tagging kids at camps (or in general)?

I just keeping thinking that if even 1 of those kids had something like that on them, we could have pinpointed where they are pretty quickly.
They have to be near an iphone. They wouldn't have been any real help.

Maybe not an airtag specifically, but I'm sure there's something out there that doesn't require being near an iphone, but simply having 5g service.

If not, there should be at least!


Doesn't an Apple Watch with cellular data have the ability to be found?

Other thought... if you have ever been to Great Wolf Lodge, they give you a waterproof bracelet to access your cabin. Why can't the same type of bracelet be purposed with a ping?
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one safe place
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In reply to BadMoonRisin • 9:10p, 7/5/25
BadMoonRisin said:
Wife just found out a family from her hometown church community in Liberty County who were staying in an RV camp were victims to the storms. Bodies of husband and son found, wife and other son still missing.

8 year old Daughter was at one of the camps in the area, but not sure which one (edit: it was Camp Longhorn). She was successfully evacuated, only to find out that the rest of her family was missing.

May God have mercy.
Yeah, they are friends of ours, particularly my two daughters and their husbands and children. Someone posted on Facebook pictures of their oldest son and one of my grandsons at church, in the pews and at the communion rail, and the tears have come flooding back.

I had not heard they found one of the boys, but heard they found the father.
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JeremiahJohnson
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9:10p, 7/5/25
AG
You can buy a spot for $100 and less than $20 subscription. I have a spot for tracking in my bike races.

I also have an Inreach. It's another level. I use for backcountry hunts.

I keep an Epirb in the boat. I bought it for like $250 but no subscription. You just clip it on and push the emergency signal. It's a good option for a water emergency.
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ag94whoop
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In reply to AgLiving06 • 9:13p, 7/5/25
AG
AgLiving06 said:
powerbelly said:
AgLiving06 said:
I wonder how far away we are from air tagging kids at camps (or in general)?

I just keeping thinking that if even 1 of those kids had something like that on them, we could have pinpointed where they are pretty quickly.
They have to be near an iphone. They wouldn't have been any real help.

Maybe not an airtag specifically, but I'm sure there's something out there that doesn't require being near an iphone, but simply having 5g service.

If not, there should be at least!


I know there are GPS collars and ear tags in the cattle industry that are pretty effective in tracking animals. No idea whether it could be adapted but seems like a possibility. Could almost just have it as part of camper wear to campers while at camp. Idk
Tragedies always get us thinking about scenarios but the reality is that this is such a rare and overwhelming tragedy. But it's something I have distracted myself with between prayers and checking for all the families on here and out there.
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01agtx
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In reply to Badace52 • 9:13p, 7/5/25
AG
I went to CLH for many years. I wouldn't hesitate to send my kid. I was there when it flooded in the late 90s. There is just so much land there, with church mountain being incredibly high. Buchanan, up above Inks, can absorb a ton of water. I completely understand your hesitation though. Many prayers for you all.
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ABATTBQ87
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9:14p, 7/5/25
AG
I've been following this thread since the beginning, and I want to offer this hymn, written by a man who lost his four daughters in a shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean, as a moment of reflection and comfort.

'May the Lord bless you, and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.'


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one safe place
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In reply to swimmerbabe11 • 9:14p, 7/5/25
swimmerbabe11 said:
are they telling people not to come out? I'm off work monday and Tuesday when most people do have to go back to day jobs and I'd be willing to travel and hike. Im not experienced in anything useful anymore, but i have feet, eyes, hands, and listen to instructions.
Let us know if you find they have any need for what you are talking about. I wouldn't want to be in the way but I am retired and could do whatever they asked me to do.
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DG-Ag
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9:14p, 7/5/25
AG
From a friend in Dallas - not sure what her source is:


"They found 5 bodies today and are taking the parents dna tomorrow at 7:30 to help them identify. So much better than making parents go to identify the body of their child."

You're from down South,
And when you open your mouth,
You always seem to put your foot there.
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aviationag
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In reply to jtp01 • 9:19p, 7/5/25
AG
jtp01 said:
RangerRick9211 said:
BenderRodriguez said:
BadMoonRisin said:
Wife just found out a family from her hometown church community in Liberty County who were staying in an RV camp were victims to the storms. Bodies of husband and son found, wife and other son still missing. 8 year old Daughter was at one of the camps in the area, but not sure which one. She was successfully evacuated, only to find out that the rest of her family was missing.

May God have mercy.


Thats my friend John I mentioned earlier (in this thread or the other).

Last I saw was they recovered him this morning but had not found his wife or their boys.

They were a very special family, this has been hard on everyone who knew them for sure.


If you catch wind of anything we can do for that girl, please let us know.


Yes, Please. I grew up in Liberty County and still have family there I visit fairly often. Most likely someone in my family knows this family.
i grew up in Dayton but am probably older than you. I still have good friends who live there and thought the same thing. I'm sure my friends know of them. This is so tragic.
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Tailgate88
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9:19p, 7/5/25
AG
Walked outside this evening and saw this. Hill Country, Aggieland is praying for you.


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AustinCountyAg
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In reply to DG-Ag • 9:19p, 7/5/25
Main reason is because parents have been going back and forth to funeral homes all day id'ing bodies looking for there kid(s). With DNA they can at least stop them from having to do that. I couldn't imagine.
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Jugstore Cowboy
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In reply to austinag1997 • 9:20p, 7/5/25
AG

Quote:
Doesn't an Apple Watch with cellular data have the ability to be found?
Cellular data isn't super reliable during power outages, especially in rural areas.

I was staying near the Trinity River during the May flood last year, and one of the apps I was using to track the storm showed my location about 6 or 7 miles away from where I was - which I guess was the nearest working big cell tower I could ping to.
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Ag87H2O
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9:21p, 7/5/25
AG
Been following this thread all day, praying for good news and for all those working search and rescue. I know given the extent of the flooding and damage that discouragement sets in the longer this goes, but keep the faith. God is a God of miracles.
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bkfromtx19
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In reply to Ag87H2O • 9:22p, 7/5/25
I've been refreshing every few minutes all day, just waiting and hoping and praying for good news from Dermdoc and Wynne Naylor's family friend. I can't imagine. My prayers continue.
Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2019
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aviationag
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In reply to DG-Ag • 9:26p, 7/5/25
AG
DG-Ag said:
From a friend in Dallas - not sure what her source is:


"They found 5 bodies today and are taking the parents dna tomorrow at 7:30 to help them identify. So much better than making parents go to identify the body of their child."

I don't know who your friend is, but I live in Dallas and can confirm the DNA request. Precaution since they would have been in the water for 2 days now. My friend had to go identify several young girls who were not his daughter; that trauma will live with him forever.
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