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“We Thought We’d Die”: Children Recount Harrowing Escape from Kerr County Flood

A Night of Terror and Triumph: When Floodwaters Rose at Camp La Junta

What was meant to be a carefree summer night at Camp La Junta quickly turned into a nightmare no child should ever face. The water started quietly—almost unnoticed—before becoming a merciless force tearing through cabins and drowning the familiar in darkness. Children found themselves thrust into a desperate fight for survival, swimming through icy floodwaters while the night swallowed their screams.

But amid the sorrow, a cruel echo has emerged—while young survivors clung to hope, a shocking segment of online voices chose to mock their pain. What does it say about us when tragedy becomes fodder for cruelty rather than compassion?

Voices from the Flood: “We Swam to Survive”

Two brothers who lived through that harrowing night paint a vivid picture of terror. “The water came up so fast, it was already reaching the top bunk,” one said. At around 4 a.m., they awoke to find their cabin filling with water, walls buckling as floodwaters surged. In pitch-black darkness, children scrambled to rafters and beams, gripping anything to stay afloat as the currents threatened to drag them under.

Their rescue came only after hours—buses arriving like lifelines after an eternity. Their story is just one of many from a night when nature’s fury was matched only by the bravery of those caught in its path.

The Toll: Lives Lost, Futures Shattered

The human cost is staggering. At least 24 confirmed dead and more than 20 girls still missing at nearby Camp Mystic. Families broken, communities left grappling with loss that no words can fully capture.

The floodwaters may eventually retreat, but the scars will remain—etched into the hearts of survivors, the memories of loved ones lost, and the fabric of Kerr County itself.

The Dark Side of the Internet: Mockery in the Midst of Mourning

Yet, while families mourn and rescuers race against time, a disheartening reality has surfaced online. Some voices chose mockery over mercy—posting hateful remarks like “Texas deserves it,” turning a tragedy into a spectacle of callousness.

How do we reconcile the courage of children fighting for life with the cruelty of strangers laughing from behind screens? In moments like these, our collective humanity is tested not just by the disaster itself—but by how we respond.

Conclusion: Compassion, the True Measure of Strength

As Kerr County begins the slow and painful process of healing, the stories from Camp La Junta and Camp Mystic remind us of the fragility and resilience of human life. These children faced the unimaginable and survived. Their bravery demands our respect.

But beyond rescue efforts and emergency aid, Kerr County deserves something more—our compassion. Our prayers. Our unity. In a time when some online voices sow division and scorn, let us choose empathy instead. Let us stand with those who have lost everything and honor the strength it takes to survive the storm.

Because true strength is not just in the fight to stay alive—it’s in how we lift each other up afterward.

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