AUSTIN, TEXAS — A third child from Austin has been confirmed dead following the devastating July 4 flood that struck Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. Eight-year-old Abby Pohl, a student at Casis Elementary School, tragically lost her life when floodwaters swept through the Texas Hill Country campground.
In a public statement released Friday, Abby’s parents, Matt and Kristin Pohl, shared heartbreaking words to honor their daughter’s memory.
“Abby had a magical life force that filled the room with light and laughter. Her quirky sense of humor and the mischievous twinkle in her beautiful blue eyes made her a magnet for others, many of whom claimed her as their ‘best friend,’” the Pohl family wrote.
The family expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support they’ve received.
“We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this time of unimaginable loss. We ask for privacy as we grieve.”
Abby is the third child from Austin confirmed to have died at Camp Mystic during the catastrophic flooding in Kerr County, which has claimed at least 96 lives, including 36 children, according to official reports. More than 160 individuals remain missing, with search and rescue efforts ongoing.
Community Reeling from Multiple Losses in Austin
Earlier this week, Michael McCown confirmed the death of his daughter, Linnie McCown, who also attended Casis Elementary. In a separate tragedy, the family of Mary Stevens, a student at Highland Park Elementary School in North Central Austin, announced that Mary had also died in the flood.
“Our family is completely devastated by the loss of our beloved Mary at Camp Mystic,” her family said in a statement. “This is a tragedy that no parent can prepare for. We continue to keep the fellow campers, staff, and families in our prayers—for their rescue and return home.”
A Community United in Grief
Camp Mystic, a beloved all-girls summer camp in the Hill Country, became the epicenter of a natural disaster that has shocked Texas and the nation. The flood, which followed days of heavy rain, turned the typically tranquil Guadalupe River into a torrent that swept through cabins in the early morning hours of July 4.
Local officials, families, and volunteers continue to search for those missing, while school communities in Austin and surrounding regions gather to honor the young lives lost.
Vigils, tributes, and grief counseling resources are being organized at Casis Elementary and Highland Park Elementary as Austin mourns these profound losses.