Camp Mystic Nurse Devon Williams Helped Save Girls During Texas Floods

Image sources: dpaige323

When catastrophic floods struck Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls nestled along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, the world’s attention turned to the devastation and the stories of survival that emerged. Among the heroes was Devon Williams, a nurse at Camp Mystic, whose calm leadership and documentation of the camp’s evacuation provided a rare, inside look at the resilience of both staff and campers during a disaster.

• Over the July 4th weekend, torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to surge more than 30 feet, inundating Camp Mystic and surrounding areas.
• The flash floods were among the deadliest in recent Texas history, with over 100 lives lost statewide and at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic confirmed dead, with others still missing.
• The camp, home to hundreds of young girls and staff, was devastated in a matter of hours as cabins were swept away and families awaited word of their loved ones’ safety.

Williams joined Good Morning America to describe the tragedy and evacuation (her interview starts at 1:10):

The Camp posted this message to their homepage:

Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe river.

Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.

We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level.

We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.

Devon Williams: Nurse, Witness, and Storyteller

• On the Front Lines – As the camp’s nurse, Devon Williams was responsible not only for the physical well-being of the campers but also for providing emotional support during the crisis. Williams quickly shifted into emergency response mode, helping coordinate the evacuation as floodwaters rose, power failed, and communication lines went down.
• Documenting the Evacuation – Amid the chaos, Williams began filming the evacuation process, capturing both the devastation outside and the emotional journey inside the evacuation buses. Her videos show campers—some sobbing, others singing hymns and worship songs—trying to comfort one another as they left behind the only world they’d known for days. Williams’ footage, later shared widely on social media and news outlets, offered a rare and poignant window into the lived experience of disaster response from a nurse’s perspective.

@dpaige323 Camp Mystic July 4, 2025 #CampMystic #Flood #CampMysticFlood #Rescue #Evacuation #Texas #HuntTx ♬ Rescue – Lauren Daigle

• Capturing Camp Life Before the Storm – In the days leading up to the disaster, Williams filmed everyday moments at Camp Mystic, documenting the laughter, friendships, and routines that defined camp life. Her pre-flood video preserves the spirit and joy of the community, offering a poignant contrast to the tragedy that followed.

@dpaige323 Camp Mystic! June 28 – July 3, 2025 #CampMystic #BEFOREtheFlood ♬ These Memories – Hollow Coves

In a heartfelt Facebook post following the evacuation, Williams reflected on the tragedy, expressing her grief for the lives lost and gratitude for the support shown to the Camp Mystic community. Her words highlights both the sorrow and the resilience of those affected, resonating deeply with families and fellow nurses.

Williams’ leadership at Camp Mystic is a testament to the critical, multifaceted role nurses play in disaster response:

• Crisis management: Rapid assessment and triage, evacuation coordination, and improvising care in austere conditions.
• Emotional support: Providing stability, reassurance, and hope to children and colleagues during traumatic events.
• Bearing witness: Documenting and sharing the human impact of disaster, ensuring that stories of loss and resilience are not forgotten.

Her encouragement of singing and group prayer on the evacuation buses helped transform fear into solidarity, even as the girls witnessed scenes of destruction outside.

Camp Mystic July 4, 2025 My Evacuation Part 6 On a bus to the reunification center. The girls are singing to try and calm everyone. This is footage from my evacuation and everything I saw. I wish you could see before shots to show how truly devastating it is.

Williams’ story at Camp Mystic is not just about survival; it is about the heart of nursing—compassion, courage, and the unwavering commitment to care, even in the darkest moments. Her documentation of the evacuation not only helped save lives but also inspired countless others by showing what it means to be a nurse when everything is on the line.

For nurses everywhere, Williams’ example serves as a powerful reminder: in times of crisis, your presence, your voice, and your compassion can make all the difference. 💜

Nurse.org will update this article as more information about the historic floods is known. 

🤔 Nurses, what do you think about Devon Williams’ courage during this evacuation? Share your thoughts in the discussion forum below.