NBC Jenna Bush Hager got emotional on theTodayshow on Monday, July 7 while discussing the tragic flooding in Texas She shared that her mother, Laura Bush, was previously a counselor at Camp Mystic — the Christian summer camp where 27 campers died in the floods There are still 10 children and one counselor missing from the camp The devastatingflooding in Central Texashas hit very close to home forJenna Bush Hager. On Monday, July 7, the daughter of formerPresident George W. Bushandfirst lady Laura Bush,appeared during the early hours of theTodayshow to discuss her family's ties toCamp Mystic, the Christian summer camp, which suffered the loss of 27 young female campers and still has at least 10 others missing. "My mom was a counselor there, but also so many of my friends were raised at this camp," Bush Hager, 43, told co-host Craig Melvin while becoming audibly emotional. "Texas camps are institutions, as you just heard, where many family members, generations — this camp was 100 years old — so grandmothers, mothers, kids, have all gone there." Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty The mother of three added that her mom, Laura, was a "drama counselor" at Camp Mystic and shared that "many of my friends had their kids there last week." The Texas native, whose father was previously a governor of Texas, added that the stories she's heard coming out of Texas have been "beautiful and heartbreaking." "Texas has a type of resilience," she shared of the state. "They're generous people, where people want to reach out and help. Texas camps are really special." Jenna Bush Hager/Instagram Bush Hager added that her husband, Henry Hager, had previously questioned why they chose to sendtheir three kids— Mila, 12, Poppy, 9, and Hal, 5 — to Texas camps in the heat of the summer. And Bush Hager replied, "Because of the love that's there." The University of Texas grad also praised the late camp ownerRichard "Dick" Eastland, who tragically died while attempting to save campers from the floods. Danielle Villasana for The Washington Post via Getty "That family, the Eastland family, is Texas royalty. They raised so many girls," Bush Hager said. "So many of my friends said he was their summer father. He looked out for campers. He raised girls to be brave and loving. His legacy will live on." Dick and his wife, Tweety, had been affiliated with camp for about five decades and were the third generation to manage it,PEOPLEpreviously reported. The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! In addition to Laura's ties to Camp Mystic, several other prominent figures have gone there over the years. Former Texas Governor John Connally sent his daughter to the camp, as did former President Lyndon Johnson and his daughters, according toTexas Monthly. "Lady Bird Johnson used to come to camp closing [ceremonies] when she was very elderly," Shelby Patterson, a camp alum, toldTexas Public Radio. At least 82 people, including 28 children, have died in the floods, according to The Associated Press. Dozens also remain missing, according to Kerr County Sheriff's Office, which noted in aFacebookpost on Sunday, July 6 that there are 10 Camp Mystic campers still unaccounted for, along with one counselor. According toCNN, citing state and local officials, rescuers are still searching for at least 41 missing people. Read the original article onPeople
