A swift and well-coordinated rescue brought relief to families in Missouri on Friday, as Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters helped carry 202 campers and staff members to safety from Camp Taum Sauk in Reynolds County.
The young campers, ranging in age from 8 to 16, had been stranded with their counselors after floodwaters rose quickly along the Black River in the Missouri Ozarks. Thanks to the rapid response, everyone was evacuated and transported to St. Louis, where they were safely reunited with their loved ones, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Video shared by the patrol showed children moving quickly toward the waiting helicopters during the rescue. The moment was dramatic, but it ended with gratitude and relief as the camp community made it out safely.
Camp Taum Sauk later shared appreciation for those who helped protect the children and staff.
"We are beyond thankful for your help keeping our camp community safe," the camp posted Saturday morning on Instagram, thanking the National Guard, Reynolds County 911 emergency responders and the Arcadia community.
The beloved coed camp has welcomed young people in Lesterville, about 125 miles south of St. Louis, since 1946.
The successful evacuation took place as Missouri faced widespread flooding after a powerful storm system brought 6 to 12 inches of rain to central, south-central and southeastern areas of the state. Across the region, emergency crews carried out at least 351 swift-water rescues after Gov. Mike Kehoe issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency.
Kehoe praised the lifesaving work of emergency personnel in a Facebook statement.
"Missouri’s first responders once again answered the call with extraordinary bravery, professionalism, and compassion," he wrote.
Nearby, Bearcat Getaway campground also took precautions by closing for the weekend. Its operators confirmed on Facebook Friday afternoon that all campers and staff there were safe and accounted for.
The flooding in Missouri came just over a year after the July 4, 2025, Guadalupe River flooding in Texas Hill Country, which killed at least 135 people, including 28 people at Camp Mystic.
As rescue crews continued their work in Missouri, state officials urged people to stay alert. The National Weather Service warned that already saturated ground could receive another 2 to 4 inches of rain through the weekend.
Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital Editor focused on major events shaping national conversation, including national crises such as the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, the Boulder terror attack and the Texas Hill Country floods.
