Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters airlifted 202 campers and staff members from a flooded camp in the Missouri Ozarks on Friday, part of a large emergency response that included more than 350 rescues across the state.
The evacuation took place at Camp Taum Sauk along the Black River in Reynolds County, roughly 125 miles south of St. Louis. The camp serves children between the ages of 8 and 16. Missouri State Highway Patrol video captured children running across the ground to board the waiting helicopters. All campers and counselors were taken to St. Louis and reunited with their families.
Camp Taum Sauk has operated in Lesterville since 1946. Camp officials posted a statement Saturday morning thanking the National Guard, Reynolds County 911 Emergency Responders, and the local Arcadia community. "We are beyond thankful for your help keeping our camp community safe," the post read.
The rescue was triggered by a storm system that dropped 6 to 12 inches of rain on central, south-central, and southeastern Missouri. Governor Mike Kehoe issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency, and local emergency personnel carried out at least 351 swift-water rescues across the region.
"Missouri's first responders once again answered the call with extraordinary bravery, professionalism, and compassion," Kehoe wrote in a statement on Facebook.
A nearby campground, Bearcat Getaway, also closed for the weekend. Operators confirmed on Friday afternoon that all campers and staff there were safe.
The National Weather Service warned that the already saturated ground could receive an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain through the weekend, and state officials urged residents to remain cautious. One death had been reported in connection with the flooding.
The Missouri floods come just over a year after the Guadalupe River in Texas flooded on July 4, 2025, killing at least 135 people, including 28 at the all-girls Camp Mystic in the Texas Hill Country.
