Local News
Mexican Counselors Silvana Garza Valdez and Maria Paula Zárate Hailed as Heroes After Rescuing Camp Mystic Girls During Texas Flooding
KERR COUNTY, TEXAS — Amid the catastrophic flooding that devastated Central Texas and swept through Camp Mystic, two young Mexican women—Silvana Garza Valdez and Maria Paula Zárate, both 19—are being hailed as heroes after risking their lives to protect and rescue young campers under their care.
The two women, serving as counselors at Camp Mystic near the Guadalupe River, sprang into action as flash floods overwhelmed the campgrounds early on July 4.
According to firsthand accounts and family confirmations, the counselors were responsible for saving at least 20 young girls—calming them, sheltering them, and keeping them safe until emergency crews could arrive.
During the flooding, the camp lost power and communications. Garza, recounting the experience to Channel2 NOW, said, “We went to sleep, and around midnight, it started to rain like nothing I’d ever experienced. The thunder rattled the windows, and lightning lit up the cabins. No one could sleep. The little girls were crying, saying, ‘We’re going to die.’ I had to stay strong, even though I was scared, too.”
By early morning, the Guadalupe River had surged violently, rising over 15 feet and sweeping away parts of the camp.
Entire cabins disappeared under water and debris. Garza and Zárate gathered the girls, reassured them, and even wrote each child’s name on her arm in case they became separated.
They sang songs, distracted the girls from the chaos, and waited in the highest cabin area for help to arrive.
Eventually, food and other rescued girls began arriving at their cabin from other parts of the camp that had been destroyed. Garza said, “We were told 25 girls were missing.
They had found two survivors who had floated downstream, but 23 were still unaccounted for.” Conditions quickly worsened, prompting an urgent evacuation as helicopters and military personnel arrived to extract the remaining children.
The emotional toll was evident as Garza described seeing mattresses in trees, children’s clothes hanging from branches, and wreckage scattered across the floodplain. “It’s something I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” she said tearfully. “Two days before the flood, we were scheduled to be in one of the cabins that was washed away.”
The bravery of Garza and Zárate has resonated widely across social media, where they’ve been described as “guardian angels” and praised for their extraordinary courage and quick thinking during the deadliest U.S. weather disaster of 2025.
As of July 7, the Central Texas flooding has claimed at least 83 lives, with fatalities reported across multiple counties:
- Kerr County: 68
- Travis County: 6
- Burnet County: 4
- Williamson County: 2
- Kendall County: 2
- Tom Green County: 1
The Texas Military Department confirmed that 520 individuals have been rescued during the flooding, including 361 air evacuations via UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and 159 ground rescues.
Search and rescue operations remain active, with dozens still missing—many of them children.
The devastation at Camp Mystic, a beloved all-girls Christian summer camp preparing to celebrate its centennial, has shaken families across the country.
The heroism displayed by Silvana Garza Valdez and Maria Paula Zárate stands out as a beacon of light amid unimaginable tragedy.
Authorities continue to urge the public to respect the privacy of victims’ families and refrain from reaching out using previously circulated contact information.
Emergency services remain focused on reunification, recovery, and support for survivors.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — The families of six of the nine individuals killed in last week’s avalanche near Castle Peak have publicly identified their loved ones and released a statement expressing profound grief as they begin to mourn the sudden loss.
The six women have been identified as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, and Kate Vitt.
A representative for their families said the women were mothers, wives, and close friends who bonded over a shared love of the outdoors and a deep passion for skiing.
“We are devastated beyond words,” the families said in a joint statement. “Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women.”
According to the statement, eight close friends had carefully organized a professionally guided, two-night backcountry hut trip to Frog Lake Huts outside Truckee.
The excursion had been scheduled well in advance and was led by professional guides.
The group began their three-day trip on Sunday, as winter storm warnings intensified across the Sierra Nevada.
They stayed in high-country huts near Frog Lake, accessible only by challenging backcountry trails.
Family members described the women as experienced and well-prepared backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains.
They were trained in avalanche safety, fully equipped with proper rescue gear, and trusted their professional guides during the trip.
“We have many unanswered questions,” the families said, “but we know they were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains.”
The avalanche struck on February 17 near Castle Peak, claiming the lives of nine people.
The women lived in the Bay Area, Idaho, and the Truckee–Tahoe region.
Two sisters were among those killed, according to their brother, McAlister Clabaugh, who spoke to media outlets. Caroline Sekar, a mother of two, lived in San Francisco, while her sister Liz Clabaugh resided in Boise, Idaho. Their brother said they were traveling with close college friends.
Mill Valley Mayor Max Perrey confirmed that some members of the group were mothers from his community.
Sugar Bowl Academy, a private ski academy located on Donner Summit, also issued a statement mourning the loss of skiers with strong ties to the Sugar Bowl and backcountry community. Executive Director Stephen McMahon described the academy as “an incredibly close and connected community” and said the tragedy had deeply affected its members. The academy has produced multiple Olympic athletes over the years.
Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo noted that one of the victims was married to a member of a local backcountry search and rescue team.
In their statement, the families expressed gratitude for the extensive rescue and recovery efforts conducted by Nevada County Search and Rescue, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, and other responding agencies. They also thanked the broader Tahoe community and supporters nationwide for the outpouring of compassion.
“We are heartbroken and are doing our best to care for one another and our families in the way we know these women would have wanted,” the statement read.
The families have asked for privacy and space as they grieve what they described as a sudden and profound loss.
The investigation into the avalanche remains ongoing as authorities continue to review weather conditions and terrain factors surrounding the tragedy.