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(NewsNation) — In the wake of the death of 27 campers and counselors in flash floods in Texas, the response from the victims’ families and the camp’s community has been overwhelmingly spiritual and rooted in faith.
Camp Mystic, located in Hunt, Texas, confirmed the deaths after floods swept through the camp in the early morning on July 4. Texas officials said 10 girls and one counselor remained unaccounted for as of Monday morning.
Camp Mystic: About 750 children were at the Christian summer camp
Roughly 750 children were attending the nearly 100-year-old camp, located along the Guadalupe River, according to NewsNation affiliate KXAN in Austin.
Linnie McCown, 8, was among the victims, her father confirmed on social media. “It’s with the heaviest of hearts we must share that our sweet little Linnie is with the Lord in heaven,” Michael McCown posted on Instagram. “She filled our hearts with so much joy we cannot begin to explain.”
The family of Lila Bonner, another camper, told KXAN that she was killed in the flooding. In a statement, the family said, “We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly for others to be spared from this tragic loss.”
Chloe Childress, 19, was a former camper turned camp counselor, according to KXAN. In a statement, her family said Chloe “lived a beautiful life that saturated those around her with contagious joy, unending grace, and abiding faith.”
Camp Mystic: ‘Our hearts are broken’
Camp Mystic posted a message on their website after the tragedy. “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly,” the website read. “We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected.”
According to the website, the camp is a private Christian summer camp for girls established in 1926. Being a better person and growing spiritually are among the ideals they challenge campers to achieve.
A video of survivors from the camp on a bus as they were being rescued showed the floodwaters flowing as the girls sang songs of praise and worship. “I’ll shout it from the mountain tops, praise God! I want my world to know the Lord of love has come to me. I want to pass it on,” they sang while driving through the area devastated by the floods.
Camp Mystic has a storied past, uncertain future
According to the New York Times, famous alumni of the camp include former first lady Laura Bush, who was a counselor, and three generations of descendants of President Lyndon B. Johnson.
As of Saturday, Gov. Greg Abbott said that first responders had rescued more than 850 people. As of Monday morning, more than 90 people were reported dead and 40 remained missing. State and local officials have not yet released the names of the deceased.