When the Guadalupe River suddenly burst its banks and sent devastating floods rushing through Texas’s Hill Country, two young counselors at Camp Mystic acted fast to keep their campers safe.
Silvana Garza Valdez and María Paula Zárate, both just 19 years old, started writing the girls’ names on their arms—just in case they had to be evacuated in the chaos.
Writing Names on Arms and Preparing to Evacuate
With cabins near the river being airlifted out by helicopter, Valdez and Zárate quickly told the campers to pack only their essentials.
“We began writing the girls’ names on their skin, wherever it could be visible,” Zárate shared.
Despite the growing danger, the counselors tried to keep spirits up by playing games and singing songs as floodwaters rushed past.
Tragic Toll: 27 Lives Lost at Century-Old Camp
The flooding in the region has been catastrophic, with over 120 people dead and more than 160 still missing.
Among the dead were 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a historic all-girls Christian summer camp.
Five campers and one counselor from the camp have yet to be found.
Calls for a Better Warning System Grow Louder
The disaster has sparked an urgent push from the community for improved early-warning systems.
Over 38,000 people have signed a petition demanding that Kerr County install outdoor sirens—something many locals say could have saved lives during the night when flood warnings were delayed or missed entirely.
Delay and Confusion in Emergency Alerts
Valdez and Zárate first noticed the severe weather early Friday morning, around 3 a.m., when heavy rain knocked out power at the camp.
But it wasn’t until hours later that counselors were told part of the camp had been hit hard by flooding and survivors were gathered in the dining hall.
Helicopter evacuations began mid-day, and the counselors knew they needed to get their campers ready, even though they weren’t sure if they themselves would be evacuated.
Emotional Farewells as Campers Are Airlifted Out
When evacuation orders finally came, many campers broke down in tears, afraid to leave the camp and anxious to be with their families.
Valdez described the flood as a “storm from a horror movie” and said it didn’t fully hit her how serious the situation was until they left on Army trucks.
Community Leaders and Officials Respond
While Texas Governor Greg Abbott and local officials have urged calm and cautioned against blame, frustration is mounting.
Residents say the lack of an effective, modern siren system contributed to the high death toll, especially since many children at faith-based camps like Camp Mystic are not allowed to have phones or other technology to receive text alerts.
Petition for Outdoor Sirens Gains Momentum
Nicole Wilson, who started the petition, explained that sirens used to be the lifeline for rural communities before cell phones existed.
“Disaster agencies can’t rely solely on text alerts,” she said, pointing out technology can fail or be inaccessible to children in camps.
Missed Funding Opportunities and Bureaucratic Hurdles
Over the past decade, Kerr County and Texas state agencies missed several chances to fund a flood warning system.
In 2016, a grant application was rejected due to a missing hazard mitigation plan, and in 2017, the city council of Kerrville declined to contribute financially to the project.
More recently, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority revived the idea with a $1 million funding request, but the Texas Water Development Board’s offer—consisting of a partial grant and a large interest-free loan—was declined due to unfavorable terms.
Hope for Change After Tragedy
With lawmakers set to meet for a special session, there is renewed hope that funding for emergency sirens and flood warning systems will finally be approved, potentially preventing future disasters like the one that devastated Camp Mystic and Kerr County.