In a heart-wrenching announcement that has brought Texas and the entire nation to tears, the parents of Clie Steward, the last missing girl from the devastating floods in Central Texas in July 2025, have disclosed the details of their final phone conversation with their 9-year-old daughter just 20 minutes ago on August 7, 2025. Speaking through tears at a press conference in Amy, Clie’s mother, Maria Ramirez, recounted how the call lasted only a few seconds amidst the tumultuous waters: “Mom, the water’s coming, I love you.” Those six chilling words, now resonating throughout the shattered community, were the last they heard from Emily before the connection was lost, as flash floods ravaged Camp Mystic, claiming at least 135 lives, including many children.
The Steward family, hailing from Dallas, had sent Clie to the all-girls Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River for what was intended to be a joyful July 4 weekend. However, torrential rains—amounting to 10 inches within hours—transformed the area into “Flash Flood Alley,” with the river rising 26 feet in just 45 minutes, sweeping away cabins and trailers. Emily was among 27 girls initially reported missing from Camp Mystic; as of today, she is the last unaccounted for, with rescuers having recovered her body earlier this morning near Ingram, according to Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha.
Amy and her husband, Rob, described the terror of that call: “It was 3:15 a.m. We were asleep when the phone rang. Emily sounded frightened yet courageous. She spoke those words so quickly, as if she understood that time was limited.” The transcript, shared in the comments of Amy’s Facebook post, states: “Mom? The water’s coming. I love you.” Then silence. “We replay it in our minds every second,” Rob added, breaking down. The family, who has lost their “joyful spark” in Clie—a budding artist with a passion for drawing comics and playing soccer—hopes that sharing this will underscore the human toll of the floods and advocate for improved warning systems.
The catastrophe, which stands as the most lethal for children in recent U.S. history, resulted in the deaths of at least 15 children from Camp Mystic alone, with narratives of bravery and sorrow surfacing each day.
Rescue teams employed helicopters and drones; however, the challenging terrain and debris obstructed their efforts.
Governor Greg Abbott broadened the disaster declarations, yet criticism is increasing regarding the cuts to the NWS and delays in response.
Families such as the Ramirezes participated in vigils, holding onto hope until they received confirmation.
Social media has exploded with #ClieSteward, amassing over 2 million posts that share the transcript and prayers.
“Those six words break my heart—rest in peace, little one,” tweeted @TexasStrong.
Counselors from Camp Mystic, who rescued many, are celebrated as heroes, yet the sorrow remains.
The Steward family is organizing a memorial on August 10, pledging to advocate for flood safety.
As Amy expressed, “Clie’s words remind us love endures, even in darkness.”
This concluding chapter wraps up a month filled with anguish, but for Texas, the journey to healing is just commencing.