The Texas flood disaster struck Camp Mystic with brutal force. At least 27 campers lost their lives in the tragedy. Now, two surviving counselors, Silvana Garza and Maria Paula Z\u00e1rate, are bravely sharing the nightmare they endured\u2014and the impossible choice they faced as waters surged.<\/p>\n
Writing Names on Skin: A Desperate Measure<\/p>\n
About 750 girls attended the private Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River when floodwaters suddenly rose. Silvana and Maria were at the Cypress Lake site, where survivors from the main camp arrived seeking safety.<\/p>\n
Faced with chaos, the counselors made a grim decision: they wrote the girls\u2019 names\u2014and their own\u2014directly on their bodies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started to write our names on our skin, anywhere visible,\u201d Maria told Mexican outlet NMas.
\n\u201cWe did the same for the girls, writing their names where they could be seen easily.\u201d
\nThis was a heartbreaking but necessary step, meant to identify campers if the floodwaters swept them away and separated them from loved ones.<\/p>\n
Shielding the Kids from Ho*ror<\/p>\n
Despite the mounting fear, the counselors kept a brave face.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were told to put on a happy face so we wouldn\u2019t scare the kids,\u201d Silvana recalled.
\nThey urged the girls to prepare for evacuation\u2014packing bags and clutching favorite stuffed animals\u2014hoping for safety but fearing the worst.<\/p>\n
Chaos and Fear During Evacuation<\/p>\n
Uncertainty weighed heavily as they waited for evacuation orders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t know if we were going to be evacuated or not,\u201d Silvana said. \u201cWe were just waiting.\u201d
\nWhen evacuation came, panic erupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of the girls started to go crazy,\u201d Silvana said. \u201cSome cried because they didn\u2019t want to leave. Others wanted their parents. It was awful.\u201d
\nThe campers didn\u2019t have cell phones and weren\u2019t immediately told about the d**ths. Silvana only fully understood the disaster\u2019s scale once they were evacuated.<\/p>\n
Ongoing Search and Rescue Efforts<\/p>\n
At a Tuesday news conference, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that five campers and one counselor remain missing. Rescue teams continue searching floodwaters.<\/p>\n
Spokesperson Jonathan Lamb reported the last live rescue occurred the previous Friday.<\/p>\n
Community Mourns, Prays, and Thanks First Responders<\/p>\n
Camp Mystic released a heartfelt statement:<\/p>\n
\u201cOur hearts are broken alongside our families enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.\u201d
\nThey thanked the community and first responders risking their lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ask for your continued prayers, respect, and privacy for our families affected. May the Lord wrap His presence around us all.\u201d
\nMassive State Response Underway<\/p>\n
The floods triggered a large-scale emergency response. Governor Greg Abbott reported that over 1,500 state workers have been deployed to aid rescue and recovery efforts.<\/p>\n
As search teams work tirelessly, the nation watches and prays for those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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