The Texas flood disaster hit Camp Mystic with devastating force claiming the lives of at least 27 campers.
Two Camp Counselors Speak Out After Texas Flood Nightmare
Two young counselors, Silvana Garza and María Paula Zárate, are breaking their silence about the terrifying ordeal they faced during the catastrophic Texas floods and the heartbreaking decision they were forced to make as water closed in around them.
A Devastating Choice Amid Chaos
The massive floods, which have already claimed at least 107 lives and left 160 people missing, struck while roughly 750 children were attending a private Christian summer camp for girls along the Guadalupe River.
Silvana and María Paula were stationed at Camp Mystic’s Cypress Lake site when evacuees from the main camp began arriving in panic and confusion.
As the situation grew increasingly dire, the counselors were confronted with a haunting decision: they began writing the names of the young girls in their care directly onto their bodies fearing the worst, and hoping it would help identify them if they were swept away by the rising waters.
“We Wrote Their Names on Their Skin”: Camp Counselors Recall Harrowing Flood Experience
“We started writing our names on our skin anywhere it would be visible,” María told Mexican outlet NMas. “We did the same for the girls, writing their names where they could easily be seen.”
It was a desperate, heartbreaking act a way to ensure the children’s identities would be known if they were swept away by the floodwaters and separated from their families.
Despite the fear gripping them, the counselors did everything they could to shield the young campers from the unfolding disaster.
“We Were Told to Put On a Happy Face”
“We had to smile and act calm so we wouldn’t scare the kids,” Silvana said.
But panic was already beginning to spread.
“All of the Girls Started to Go Crazy”
As uncertainty loomed, the counselors urged the girls to prepare for evacuation. They were told to pack their bags and bring along their favorite stuffed animals small comforts amid the chaos.
“We didn’t know if we were going to be evacuated or not,” Silvana explained. “We were just waiting.”
Then came the call to evacuate and with it, total confusion.
“All of the girls started to panic,” she recalled. “Some were crying, others didn’t want to leave. Many were asking for their parents. I don’t even know how to describe it it was truly awful.”
Campers Left in the Dark as Flood Tragedy Unfolded
The young girls didn’t have access to their phones and weren’t immediately told about the lives lost. Silvana admitted she didn’t fully comprehend the scale of the disaster until after the evacuation was underway.
At a press conference Tuesday morning, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that five campers and one counselor are still missing as search and rescue efforts continue. Kerrville spokesperson Jonathan Lamb added that the most recent live rescue occurred last Friday.
Massive Response Underway
In a statement, Camp Mystic expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy:
“Our hearts are broken alongside the families enduring this unimaginable loss. We are praying for them constantly.”
The camp also extended heartfelt thanks to the first responders and members of the community risking their lives in the ongoing rescue mission.
“We ask for your continued prayers, respect, and privacy for each of the families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.”
In response to the devastation, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that more than 1,500 state personnel have been deployed to the flood-hit areas to aid in rescue and recovery efforts.
The situation remains fluid, and for many families the wait continues.
