Over the Fourth of July weekend at Camp Mystic in Central Texas's Hill Country, severe floods resulted in the deaths of several campers. Two families from Houston are among those affected. Mary Kate Jacobe, an 8-year-old girl from Houston, was attending the Christian girls' camp when the flood occurred.
According to KHOU 11, Mary Kate's family described her as “tiny but mighty, full of love and joy, with a smile that melted your heart.” The Jacobe family has expressed their "unthinkable" sorrow, saying, "We are utterly shattered and forever changed by the loss of our girl."
Mary Kate was among those affected. Greta Katherine Toranzo, another Houston student, was swept away by floodwaters at Camp Mystic. Her body was recovered five days later. A memorial with flowers and stuffed animals has been set up outside Sinclair Elementary School, where Greta attended, to acknowledge the lives lost.
CW39 reports a statement from Sinclair Elementary, "There are several ways the community can help families who lost loved ones, including Greta’s." The incident has led to a review of safety protocols at camps such as Camp Mystic, whose emergency plan was recently approved according to state records. The effectiveness of warning systems is being examined, as some camps evacuated early while others did not receive warnings due to limited cell service in the area.
The death toll from the Hill Country floods has risen to 111, with 161 individuals still reported missing. Search efforts are ongoing, involving over a thousand volunteers, as authorities work to locate those affected and manage the response to the disaster.
