By Jenna Lawson | Lone Star Sentinel | July 15, 2025
What started as a routine aerial scan turned into one of the most miraculous turns in the ongoing Texas flood tragedy.
On Tuesday afternoon, a specialized infrared-equipped helicopter deployed by Texas state police picked up unexpected thermal movement on the rooftop of an abandoned ranger outpost nearly 18 miles from Camp Mystic — the site where 27 girls went missing during last week’s devastating floods.
To the shock of the crew, two young girls were spotted waving frantically for help, their faces sunburned but alive — and alert.
“The moment we zoomed in and saw those arms waving… we knew we’d just turned the corner in this case,” said Pilot Ray McKenna, a 14-year veteran with the Texas Air Rescue Division.
But what happened next stunned everyone involved.
While preparing for airlift, one of the rescued girls reportedly begged the rescue crew to “go to the cold place with the green barrels.” That cryptic phrase, cross-referenced with satellite heat signatures, led ground crews to a concealed underground storm shelter beneath an old water tower — completely missed in previous searches.
Inside were 10 more of the missing girls, huddled together, weak but alive. Emergency responders say they had access to limited food and rainwater but had been in the dark for several days.
“This was a location absolutely no one expected,” said Sheriff Colton Briggs. “It wasn’t even on any of our original maps. Someone had hidden it intentionally.”
All 12 girls are currently being treated at a trauma care unit in San Antonio. Their conditions are said to be stable, though several are suffering from hypothermia, dehydration, and minor injuries.
This discovery now shifts the tone of the entire operation — from grim to possibly redemptive. Only 15 girls remain unaccounted for, and police believe the newly rescued children may hold key information about the others’ last known whereabouts.
An emergency press conference is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. tonight, where officials are expected to share recovered items, statements from the rescued girls, and updates from the digital forensics team analyzing surveillance and smartwatch data.
This is a developing story.