Two Latina Camp Counselors Save 20 Children During Deadly Flood at Camp Mystic in Texas

Two Latina Camp Counselors Save 20 Children During Deadly Flood at Camp Mystic in Texas
Credit: YouTube/ NMas+ (screenshot)

A quiet night in the mountainous region of Kerr County, Texas turned into a nightmare when the Guadalupe River surged violently through a Christian summer camp, Camp Mystic, before dawn on Friday, July 4th. Torrential rains swept through the area, destroying cabins and sweeping away anyone in their path. Currently, local authorities report at least 27 deaths and more than 20 girls missing in what is now one of the worst flood-related tragedies in the region’s recent history.

Amid the devastation, a single act of courage carried through the darkness. Two 19-year-old Mexican women, Silvana Garza Valdez and María Paula Zárate, managed to save the lives of 20 girls under their care in the middle of the chaos. Their testimony has since become a symbol of bravery and resolve during the most terrifying hours of the storm.

The Two Latinas Reacted Quickly

María Paula Zárate recounted to Foro TV that the rain began around 1 a.m. and quickly intensified until no one at the camp could sleep. Cabins began to fill with water. The river surged out of control. Darkness cloaked the area. Fear spread among the young girls, most of whom were under 10.

The two caretakers took swift action. They wrote each girl’s name on their arms using permanent marker in case they became separated. “The rain didn’t stop all night. The girls were crying and hugging us in fear,” María Paula said. The gesture, simple and intuitive, helped restore a measure of order during the chaos and offered comfort to children paralyzed by fear.

Hours in the Dark With Rushing Waters Around Camp Mystic

As the situation worsened, Silvana and María Paula assembled the girls into small groups, guiding them barefoot through rising waters to higher ground. They improvised shelters and kept the girls close as they waited through the storm. There was no electricity, no phone service, no sign of rescue. “We prayed and told them everything would be okay,” Silvana said, describing how they tried to keep the girls calm despite the cold, the water, and the ever-present fear.

Authorities confirmed that during the peak of the flood, communication was cut off entirely and the rushing waters were so strong that evacuation became almost impossible. The two Latinas managed to keep their group alive through sheer instinct and the urgent will to protect.

Search Continues as Families Wait

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office reported that 27 bodies had been recovered and over 20 girls remain unaccounted for. Search and rescue operations are underway with support from the Texas National Guard and local volunteers. Officials worry that some children were pulled away by the floodwaters in the early hours, when the river’s strength was at its peak.

Early reports reveal that Camp Mystic sat in a zone known for flash floods. There was no clear evacuation plan in place. No alarms. No weather monitoring system. Those details are now part of an ongoing investigation that will likely shape future safety measures.

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