A 13-year-old girl has made a heartbreaking admission after evacuating the summer camp where at least 27 were killed in the Texas floods.
Camp Mystic catastrophe profiled.
The backstory of Camp Mystic shows it as a cherished summer retreat, a place where kids build friendships and memories — now shattered by disaster.
Located near the Guadalupe River, the camp sits in a picturesque area popular for outdoor adventures and bonding.
The flood was triggered by sudden, intense rainfall upstream, which caught everyone unprepared despite some early warnings.
Previous floods had never reached such terrifying heights, making this event particularly devastating.
Camp staff had emergency protocols, but the speed and scale of the flood overwhelmed all efforts.
Aftermath of flood tragedy confirmed.
It was confirmed that 27 campers and counsellors perished in the disaster, part of a grim overall death toll of at least 82.
Camp Mystic’s official statement expressed their grief and solidarity with the families enduring the unimaginable loss.
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families,” the statement said, offering prayers and support amid the tragedy.
The camp is working closely with local and state authorities, who are deploying extensive resources to find those still missing.
The statement thanked first responders and community members for their ongoing support during the crisis.
Details of search unveiled.
Meanwhile, the search continues for 10 children and one counsellor who have yet to be found.
Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Department of Emergency Management, vowed at a press conference that rescuers “will not stop” until everyone is accounted for.
Fresh flood warnings have been issued in the region, extending the danger and complicating rescue efforts.
Authorities expect the death toll to rise as conditions worsen and more bodies are recovered.
Shocking instructions explained.
Silvana Garza and Maria Paula shared their ordeal in a Spanish interview, detailing how they had to write their names—and those of the young girls—on their bodies to prepare for the worst.
The floodwaters surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes on July 4th, catching everyone off guard and wreaking havoc across Kerr County and surrounding areas near the Guadalupe River.
“We started to write our names on our skin, anywhere that was visible,” Paula said, describing the chilling preparation.
The girls, ages unknown, had their names marked too, in case the floodwaters swept them away and identification became impossible.
“We did the same for the girls,” Paula continued. “Anywhere easy to see.”
The two counsellors were told to maintain a ‘happy face’ and stay calm for the younger girls, who were understandably terrified.
This grim instruction came after counsellors from a nearby private camp rushed over to warn them about the rapidly approaching flood.
“We told them to pack a bag and their favorite stuffed animal,” Garza recalled, as the counsellors prepared the children for a possible evacuation.
But uncertainty reigned — no one knew if evacuation was guaranteed or even possible amid the chaos.
Some survivors recall the chaos as children clung to counselors, gripping stuffed animals and clinging to hope.
The counselors’ act of writing names on bodies was a grim, last-resort measure for identification if anyone were lost in the floodwaters.
Families face heartbreak and uncertainty.
The floodwaters not only tore through the camp but caused widespread destruction in Kerr County and neighboring towns.
Local officials have launched investigations into whether warnings were timely and sufficient.
Families of victims are grappling with shock, loss, and uncertainty as search operations continue.
The community has rallied to provide support, holding vigils and organizing aid for survivors and families.
Meanwhile, the flood emergency continues to loom with new rain predicted, prolonging fears and rescue efforts.
The tragic Camp Mystic flood stands as a sobering reminder of nature’s sudden fury and the fragility of human safety.
A 13-year-old survivor has spoken out with a heartbreaking admission.
Stella Thompson was told to stay indoors after the power cut out at camp, and in the morning they realised it was a serious situation learned campers needed to be evacuated.
“Eventually when we got that news we were all kind of hysterical and the whole cabin was praying a lot and terrified — but not for ourselves.”
Stella was eventually rescued from the camp she knew and loved.
She made a heartbreaking admission after being rescued:
“You’d see kayaks in trees and it was kind of horrific because we had no idea.”
“It didn’t look like Camp Mystic anymore.”