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Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Teen Counselors Hailed As ‘Heroes' After Saving 20 Girls From Texas Flood At Camp Mystic
/ Jul 08, 2025, 04:33PM IST Two teenage counselors at Camp Mystic, Silvana Garza and Maria Paula, became unexpected heroes during the devastating Texas floods. As floodwaters tore through the camp, the girls kept calm, told terrified children to pack bags and stuffed animals, and even wrote names on their arms, just in case they didn't survive. Their courage saved at least 20 young girls while 27 others from nearby branches tragically lost their lives. Eleven remain missing. Photos of the two teens have since gone viral, with Texans calling them "true heroines." Their mother's proud post is sweeping social media, while the statewide death toll has now climbed to 104.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Camp Counselors Say They Wrote Girls' Names on Their Bodies in Case They Were Swept Away by Texas Floodwaters
Two camp counselors recall writing names on the bodies of campers in case they were swept away by floodwaters during the Texas flood disaster on July 4 Silvana Garza and Maria Paula said that they "put on a happy face" for the campers, who began to panic after realizing the tragedy that was unfolding Camp Mystic confirmed on July 7 that 27 campers and counselors died due to the 'catastrophic flooding"Two camp counselors say they wrote girls' names on their bodies in case they were swept away by floodwaters during the Texas flood disaster. Silvana Garza and Maria Paula told Mexican news outlet NMas on Sunday, July 6, that they began to 'write our names on our skin, anywhere that was visible' as floodwaters began to rise near Camp Mystic on Friday, July 4, according to The New York Post. In the Spanish-language interview, the teenagers said they were working at a nearby branch when survivors who were evacuated from Camp Mystic arrived at their site. After writing their own names on themselves, Silvana and Maria said they 'did the same for girls' attending the camp, ensuring they were written 'anywhere that was easy to see.' 'At the time, we started to prepare our girls because we thought we were also going to be evacuated,' Maria said, according to the Post. '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.' The counselors were instructed to 'put on a happy face' in order to not frighten the campers. But the campers eventually caught on to the tragedy, and some began to panic. '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.' The campers and counselors were eventually evacuated from their spot, after which they learned about the extent of the tragedy. Authorities in Texas have said more than 80 people died from the flash flooding, according to the Associated Press. Camp Mystic confirmed on Monday, July 7, that 27 campers and counselors died due to the 'catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River.' 'Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,' the camp said in a statement. 'We are praying for them constantly.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. They added, "We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls." Camp Mystic said they "are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level." "We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected," they added. "May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us." To learn how to help support the victims and recovery efforts from the Texas floods, click here. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Camp Counselors Say They Wrote Girls' Names on Their Bodies in Case They Were Swept Away by Texas Floodwaters
Two camp counselors recall writing names on the bodies of campers in case they were swept away by floodwaters during the Texas flood disaster on July 4 Silvana Garza and Maria Paula said that they "put on a happy face" for the campers, who began to panic after realizing the tragedy that was unfolding Camp Mystic confirmed on July 7 that 27 campers and counselors died due to the 'catastrophic flooding"Two camp counselors say they wrote girls' names on their bodies in case they were swept away by floodwaters during the Texas flood disaster. Silvana Garza and Maria Paula told Mexican news outlet NMas on Sunday, July 6, that they began to 'write our names on our skin, anywhere that was visible' as floodwaters began to rise near Camp Mystic on Friday, July 4, according to The New York Post. In the Spanish-language interview, the teenagers said they were working at a nearby branch when survivors who were evacuated from Camp Mystic arrived at their site. After writing their own names on themselves, Silvana and Maria said they 'did the same for girls' attending the camp, ensuring they were written 'anywhere that was easy to see.' 'At the time, we started to prepare our girls because we thought we were also going to be evacuated,' Maria said, according to the Post. '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.' The counselors were instructed to 'put on a happy face' in order to not frighten the campers. But the campers eventually caught on to the tragedy, and some began to panic. '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.' The campers and counselors were eventually evacuated from their spot, after which they learned about the extent of the tragedy. Authorities in Texas have said more than 80 people died from the flash flooding, according to the Associated Press. Camp Mystic confirmed on Monday, July 7, that 27 campers and counselors died due to the 'catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River.' 'Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,' the camp said in a statement. 'We are praying for them constantly.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. They added, "We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls." Camp Mystic said they "are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level." "We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected," they added. "May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us." To learn how to help support the victims and recovery efforts from the Texas floods, click here. Read the original article on People
New York Post
07-07-2025
- General
- New York Post
Teen camp counselors describe harrowing moment they wrote girls' names on their bodies in case they were swept away in floodwaters
Two teenage camp counselors have recalled the harrowing moment they wrote the names of the young girls they were caring for on their bodies in case they were swept away in the raging Texas floodwaters. Silvana Garza and Maria Paula said they desperately put on a 'happy face' to keep the children calm as they prepared to evacuate a branch of Camp Mystic neighboring the one where at least five girls were killed and 11 are still missing. 'Us as counselors, we started to write our names on our skin, anywhere that was visible,' Paula Told Mexican news outlet NMas in a Spanish-language interview on Sunday. Advertisement 4 Counselors Silvana Garza and Maria Paula describe the moments they prepared to evacuate as raging flood waters rose around them. NMas/YouTube 4 Bystanders survey the damage at Camp Mystic. DUSTIN SAFRANEK/EPA/Shutterstock 'We did the same for the girls, wrote their names anywhere that was easy to see,' she added. Survivors of the neighboring private all-girls summer camp — where at least five girls are confirmed dead and another 11 remain missing — flocked to to the location where Garza and Paula worked as the Guadalupe River swelled. Advertisement 4 Furnitures lie scattered inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after deadly flooding. REUTERS As news poured in of the horror nearby, the pair said they were told to 'put on a happy face' to not scare the younger girls. 'At the time, we started to prepare our girls because we thought we were also going to be evacuated,' Garza told the outlet. 4 Stuffed animals on the windowsill of a cabin at Camp Mystic. REUTERS Advertisement '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.' At least 82 people have been killed in the historic floods — with dozens more people missing and the number of those killed only expected to rise.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Teenage campers describe terrifying moment they were forced to write their names on bodies while fearing the worst during Texas floods
Two teenage counselors near Camp Mystic described the terrifying moment they were forced to write names on the bodies of young campers while bracing for the worst. Silvana Garza and Maria Paula opened up about the fear that engulfed the campsites in Texas Hill Country as the devastating flood waters threatened to wipe them out. In anticipation of the worst, the counselors revealed they began writing their names on their bodies. 'Us as counselors, we started to write our names on our skin, anywhere that was visible,' Maria told Spanish outlet NMas. 'We did the same for the girls, wrote their names anywhere that was easy to see.' The massive floods ravaged the Lone Star State on the Fourth of July, with at least 80 people killed, including 28 children. An all-girls private Christian summer camp called Camp Mystic took the brunt of the devastation. Silvana and Maria were working at a neighboring branch when survivors from Camp Mystic were ushered to their location, causing confusion and panic. 'At the time, we started to prepare our girls because we thought we were also going to be evacuated,' Maria said. '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.' Things took a turn for the worse when the counselors were informed about the tragedy nearby and asked to 'put on a happy face' to not scare the younger girls. Silvana explained that the young girls began to catch on that something tragic had happened. When they learned they were going to be evacuated, chaos ensued. 'All of the girls started to go crazy, some were crying because they didn't want to leave,' Silvana said. 'Others wanted their parents. I really don't know how to explain it. It was something awful.' The girls said that they didn't have their cell phones during the event and weren't initially told about the fatalities. Silvana admitted that she didn't understand the magnitude of the tragedy until they evacuated. Just last week, the two girls were at Camp Mystic and were only recently moved to the neighboring location. Silvana added that 'no one can understand' the experience other than those who have lived it. Despite the mass tragedy, Silvana found solace in the fact that the girls who were killed 'had an amazing time' at the 'incredible' camp before their untimely deaths. While rescue efforts continue in Kerr County, Silvana and Maria are staying at a shelter house in Kirby, which is about two hours from Camp Mystic. In another harrowing tale, a teenager at Camp Mystic revealed how she quickly grabbed her name tag as her cabin began to flood so that her body would be identified in case she wasn't found alive. Callie McAlary, 16, said in an interview on Fox News with her mother, Tara Bradburn, that she was afraid she wouldn't survive when she awoke to her fellow campers running from flood waters. 'We went to bed thinking it was just a normal thunderstorm. One minute you see lightning strike and the next you hear "water's coming up" and you have kids running just trying to get to other cabins, trying to get to safety,' Callie recalled. Callie was staying on Senior Hill with the older campers and escaped the ravaging waters that hit the buildings on lower ground, near the Guadalupe River. 'I put on my name tag because I was scared that if water was coming out of other cabins that ours might be next, and I just put it on for safe keeping,' she revealed. 'In my head I was saying, "If something does happen and I do get swept away, at least I'll have my name on my body,"' Callie said. Her mother Tara listened to her daughter's traumatizing story in horror and choked back tears when recalling the moment she saw Callie alive with her name tag still on. 'This was not an environment we ever thought we would have to prepare her for,' Tara added. 'That comment, to me as a parent, when she got off that helicopter and finally came into my arms, and I saw this name tag on her... it resonated with me,' Callie's mom said while holding back tears. Despite the traumatic experience, Tara praised her daughter for thinking quickly during a crisis. Callie's mom added that she was grateful her daughter survived, but was devastated for the families in their camp community who lost children. Callie recalled the awful moments in the early hours of Independence Day as she evacuated the camp that's been an integral part of her childhood. The teen said she couldn't imagine that some of the younger girls who hugged her just last week could now be gone. The tragedy has claimed the lives of at least five young girls who were attending the summer camp, some of whom were just eight years old. Renee Smajstrla, 8, Janie Hunt, 9, Sarah Marsh, 8, Lila Bonner, 8, and Eloise Peck, 8, died in the floods while attending Camp Mystic. Two other girls, who weren't campers but were staying at a cabin nearby with their grandparents, also died. Blair, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, were killed while their grandparents, Charlene and Mike Harber, were reported missing. Their parents were staying in a separate cabin and were safe. A large-scale search effort has ensued, with over 800 people rescued. A massive search and rescue operation is still underway to locate at least 11 other missing campers. Multiple agencies including local first responders and the Department of Homeland Security are responding to the emergency. President Donald Trump signed a 'major disaster declaration' to support officials and Governor Greg Abbott vowed during a press conference, 'We will find every one of them.' DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the federal government is working to 'update the technology' to enhance weather warnings.
