“I can’t afford the luxury of getting that emotional right now.”
CORRECTION: Laura Bush was misidentified in an earlier version of this story. The story was updated on 07/07/2025 to reflect Laura Bush was a camp counselor at Camp Mystic.
The corrected story is below.
While chatting with her celebrity co-host, former NBA star Dwayne Wade, host of “Jenna & Friends” Jenna Bush Hager discussed the tragic flooding in her home state of Texas that has claimed more than 100 lives.
Hager opened up her show discussing the flooding, saying that she and Wade have “heavy hearts” thinking about those affected by the flooding.
Hager went on to mention Camp Mystic, where her mom former First Lady Laura Bush was once a camp counselor, which sat along the Guadalupe River. Due to the heavy rainfall during the July 4 weekend, the river rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, CBS News reports, resulting in catastrophic flooding.
Camp Mystic played a special role in the lives of young woman throughout Texas and beyond, Hager shared, noting that many of the friends she grew up with attended the camp.
“I think, you know, as parents, we think about the horror of sending our kids to a place that that is supposed to be and is, you know, healing and fun and joyful and all the things that kids deserve to have, and then something like this to happen,” Hager said to Wade, who agreed.
“I'm sure all of our hearts are heavy, and all our thoughts and our prayers, our wishes, and our fingers are crossed for the families,” Wade added. “You know that this community as well, you know, can overcome this together. This is going to be, obviously, it's going to be tough, but like we talked about upstairs, just as parents there are certain places that we send our kids, and we feel those are the places of safety for them, because we know the growth and evolution that happens at these places, but tragedy also occurs. So unfortunate.”
Hager said on Sunday, July 6, her and her husband, Henry Hager, dropped their kids off at a different camp in Texas for the summer. Hager and her husband share Mila, Poppy, and Hal.
“You know, putting them on the bus, saying goodbye to them, and I know so many parents whose kids are at camp or going to camp, feel that way, like, you know, we send our kids into the world with the faith that they can can have happy lives, joyful lives,” Hager explained. As adults, we know pain, we hope that our kids never face and never face it.”
“But you know, Texas is a resilient, incredible state. Y'all know I'm a homesick Texan living in New York, and it always is in my heart,” she added.
According to Fox 7 Austin, Camp Mystic, a christian camp for girls, officials have confirmed that 27 campers and counselors have died as a result of the flooding.
At least 10 campers and one counselor are still missing as first responders and other volunteers continue their search and rescue missions.
READ MORE: Chiefs owner’s wife pays tribute to his 9-year-old cousin killed in Texas floods
On the camp’s official website, it reads, “Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe river. Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.”
“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level,” the statement continued. “We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.”
@dpaige323 Camp Mystic July 4, 2025 My Evacuation Part 6 On a bus to the reunification center. The girls are singing to try and calm everyone. This is footage from my evacuation and everything I saw. I wish you could see before shots to show how truly devastating it is. #CampMystic #Flood #CampMysticFlood #Rescue #Evacuation #Texas #HuntTx ♬ original sound - D E V O N P A I G E
A video of some of the campers evacuating the campgrounds on a bus has since gone viral. The video, shared by one of the campers who detailed her evacuation on TikTok, shows the girls singing a spiritual hymn as they made their way to safety together.
“The singing gave me chills,” one comment read. “So beautiful and heartbreaking.”
