Two camp counselors, Silvana Garza and Maria Paula, shared a harrowing experience from the Texas flood disaster, where they wrote the names of the girls they cared for on their bodies in case they were swept away by floodwaters.
In a Spanish-language interview with Mexican news outlet NMas on Sunday, July 6, the counselors explained that as floodwaters began to rise near Camp Mystic on Friday, July 4, they wrote their own names on visible parts of their bodies. They explained that this was done in case they were lost in the rising floodwaters.
They were working at a nearby branch when evacuees from Camp Mystic arrived at their location. In an act of care and precaution, Silvana and Maria made sure to write the names of the campers on their bodies as well, ensuring they could be identified if the floodwaters overwhelmed them.
“We thought we were also going to be evacuated,” Maria said, recalling the tense situation. “We told them to pack a bag, to pack their favorite stuffed animal. We didn’t know if we were going to be evacuated or not. We were just waiting.”
Though the counselors were instructed to maintain a cheerful demeanor to avoid alarming the campers, the gravity of the situation soon became clear to the girls, leading to widespread panic.
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“All of the girls started to go crazy, some were crying because they didn’t want to leave,” Silvana recalled. “Others wanted their parents. I really don’t know how to explain it. It was something awful.”
Camp Mystic, the site where the tragedy unfolded, was the scene of catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas. The floodwaters led to the disappearance of at least 20 girls. As the campers and counselors were eventually evacuated, they were unaware of the full extent of the disaster until after they were safe.
Authorities in Texas confirmed that more than 80 people died in the flash flooding, and Camp Mystic confirmed on Monday, July 7, that 27 campers and counselors lost their lives.
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” Camp Mystic said in a statement. “We are praying for them constantly.”
The camp also expressed their gratitude for the support of the community and the efforts of local and state authorities in their search for the missing girls. They asked for continued prayers and respect for the families affected by the tragedy.
“We ask for your continued prayers, respect, and privacy for each of our families affected,” they said. “May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.”