Camp Counselors Inked Each Girl’s Name on Themselves During Texas Flood

Two young camp counselors, Silvana Garza and Maria Paula, lived through a terrifying ordeal when severe flooding struck the area around Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas. In their own words, shared during a July 6 interview with Mexican news outlet NMás, they described the moment when they realized the rising water could sweep them all away. To make absolutely sure that each camper could still be identified if the worst happened, Silvana and Maria each wrote the names of every girl in their care on their own skin—just in case they were separated or vanished in the floodwaters.

Setting the Stage: A Normal Holiday Weekend Turns Dangerous
It was the early hours of Friday, July 4, 2025. Camp Mystic, nestled near the banks of the Guadalupe River, was alive with laughter, songs, and the usual bustle of a midsummer holiday weekend. Children and counselors alike had looked forward to celebrating Independence Day with traditional games, crafts, and a fireworks display later that evening. For Silvana and Maria, both in their early twenties, it was supposed to be just another fun day of helping campers build memories that would last a lifetime.

But weather reports that morning were cause for concern. Scattered thunderstorms were moving in, and what began as distant rumbles of thunder quickly grew into dark, angry clouds overhead. By midafternoon, rain was falling steadily, and the normally placid Guadalupe was swelling beyond its usual banks.

First Signs of Trouble
Silvana remembers the moment she realized this storm was not going to pass by as usual summer rain. “The wind picked up suddenly,” she said. “Rain was coming down so hard that you could barely see across the clearing where the girls were playing.” Maria, stationed just a short walk away at another branch of camp facilities, felt the ground start to tremble as the river surged. “It wasn’t just rain. It felt like the whole world was moving,” Maria recalled.

As the water rose, camp leadership made the call to move all campers to higher ground. Silvana and Maria helped guide their group of around a dozen girls through muddy paths up toward a small hill just behind the main lodge. But the water kept coming—and it came fast.

A Desperate Act of Love: Writing Names on Skin
With rushing water now lapping at their ankles, both counselors knew that standing firm might not be enough. They feared the current could pick up the entire group and carry them off into the roaring flood. It was in that moment of extreme danger that each counselor took out a waterproof marker and wrote the names of each girl on a visible part of her own body—arm, shoulder, or wrist—where someone could see it at a glance.

“We wanted to be sure,” Silvana said. “If anything happened to us, if we couldn’t speak or if we were gone, at least people would know who we’d been caring for.” Maria chimed in, “It wasn’t a normal camp activity. It was pure survival. We wrote their first names—only what they went by—so no one would get confused.”

In the same breath, they also wrote their own names on their skin. “We figured if we only had our bodies left, someone would find us and at least know who we were,” Maria explained quietly. Neither counselor can say whether this extra step was what saved lives, but both believe it was the right thing to do.

Evacuees Arrive—Fear Grows
Shortly after Silvana and Maria marked themselves and their campers, a line of evacuees began arriving at their location. Fellow counselors and campers from the main camp area were being led up the hill, away from the flood’s fastest currents. Silvana, regardless of her own fear, made sure each new arrival felt seen and heard. She gently guided them to safety, making sure to hold each child’s hand and whisper encouragement until they were out of harm’s way.

Maria stayed close behind, helping campers carry small backpacks filled with personal items. “We told them to grab what mattered most: a change of clothes, a favorite toy, maybe a photo of their family,” Maria said. They didn’t know at the time whether a full evacuation order would come, but they prepared for any outcome.

Keeping Spirits Up in a Terrifying Moment
Throughout all of this, a key part of their role was to stay calm and cheerful—even when they themselves felt panic rising inside. “Camp rules say counselors should always be a source of joy and confidence,” Silvana said. “So I smiled and joked with the kids, even though my heart was pounding out of my chest.” Maria agreed: “We wanted to keep everyone from seeing how scared we really were. But inside, it was awful. You think, ‘How can this be happening to us?’”

Despite their best efforts, the campers picked up on the urgent mood. “They started to cry, some of them were crying so hard they couldn’t breathe,” Silvana remembered. “Others just froze, staring at the water as if they couldn’t believe it.” The counselors did all they could—hugs, comforting words, reminders that help was on the way—but the flood’s power was undeniable.

Tragedy at Camp Mystic
The full scope of the disaster only became clear after everyone who could be reached was brought to safety. In the chaos of the rising waters on July 5, at least twenty young campers were swept away. Search and rescue teams from all over Texas were called in, combing through debris and racing against time to find missing children.

By July 7, officials confirmed that more than eighty people had died in flash flooding across the region. Camp Mystic released a statement that Monday evening: twenty-seven people connected to the camp—campers and counselors—had lost their lives. “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” the camp said. “We are praying for them constantly.”

A Community in Mourning
In the days that followed, the people of Hunt, Texas, and the wider region came together to honor those lost. Vigils were held in nearby towns. School assemblies, church services, and community centers opened their doors for people to share stories, light candles, and lean on each other for support.

At one such vigil, a small group of former campers and counselors stood together in silence, holding glow sticks and soft blankets in memory of those swept away. One mother spoke of the comfort she found knowing that Silvana and Maria had tried so hard to protect every child. “They acted with courage and love,” the mother said through tears. “They did everything they could.”

Gratitude and Requests from Camp Mystic
In its official statement, Camp Mystic also expressed profound gratitude for the aid and prayers coming in from around the world. They thanked local and state authorities, volunteer rescue crews, and everyday people whose quick actions helped save many lives. “We couldn’t have gotten through this without your support,” the camp wrote. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

The camp also asked for privacy and respect for all families who suffered losses. “We ask for your continued prayers, respect, and privacy for each of our families affected,” the statement read. “May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.”

Looking Forward: Healing and Hope
Today, as Camp Mystic begins the slow process of healing, counselors like Silvana and Maria are determined to carry on. They have started volunteering with local refugee shelters and disaster relief organizations to help other families facing emergencies. “We learned that in a disaster, so much can happen so fast,” Maria said. “If writing names on our bodies helped even one person, it was worth it.”

Silvana has joined a team that teaches disaster preparedness in schools. “I don’t want any child to go through what our campers did,” she said. “If I can help another group of kids stay safe, I will.”

While nothing can replace those who were lost, the actions of these two young women have inspired others to think about what they could do in a crisis. Simple steps—like keeping an emergency bag by your front door or memorizing important phone numbers—can make a huge difference when time is running out.

Final Thoughts
The story of Silvana Garza and Maria Paula is a reminder that courage can come in small, determined acts. Writing names on skin may seem like a last resort, but it was a powerful way to show that every life mattered. In the chaos of floodwaters, in the face of overwhelming fear, these two counselors found a way to protect and honor the children in their care.

Their choice may have been guided by instinct, but it was also guided by love. And in the end, that love helped create a legacy of hope, resilience, and community that will live on long after the waters have receded.