At 12:41 AM EDT on Friday, August 1, 2025, a gut-wrenching revelation has emerged from the ongoing search efforts following the catastrophic Texas floods, as the parents of one of the last missing Camp Mystic girls disclosed the full details of their daughter’s final phone call. Just minutes before the Guadalupe River surged on July 4, 2025, the girl managed to utter only six words: “Mom, help,…”—a plea cut short by the chaos that has left the nation holding its breath. This emotional disclosure, updated just 20 minutes ago, adds a haunting urgency to the search for the remaining missing girl, Greta Toranzo, and underscores the tragedy that has claimed 27 lives, including many from the all-girls Christian camp. The revelation has gripped the public, blending hope with despair as rescue teams race against time.

The Flood’s Unrelenting Grip

The disaster unfolded in the predawn hours of July 4, when Tropical Storm Barry’s remnants dumped over a foot of rain, causing the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet in 45 minutes near Hunt, Texas. Camp Mystic, a 99-year-old retreat hosting 750 girls, was overwhelmed, with cabins like Bubble Inn—housing the youngest campers—swept away in the deluge. The initial death toll reached 27, including nine children and several counselors, with the number of missing dropping to three—Linnie McCown, Lila Bonner, and Greta Toranzo—after extensive searches. Linnie’s body was found on July 31, clutching a note reading “Mommy, I love you—Linnie,” while Lila was located earlier, leaving Greta as the last unaccounted-for camper.

The flood’s ferocity has tested Texas’s emergency response, with over 1,500 state personnel, helicopters, and boats deployed. Families have endured vigils in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, where many campers hailed from, while survivor stories—like 10-year-old Lucy Kennedy’s escape—offer fleeting relief. Yet, the parents’ revelation about Greta’s last call has shifted the narrative, injecting new emotion into a search now focused on a single missing child.

The Heartbreaking Last Call

The disclosure came late on July 31, when Ellen and Jorge Toranzo, Greta’s parents from Houston, shared the agonizing details with Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha Jr. during a private meeting at the reunification center. At 1:09 AM on July 4, as floodwaters began to rise, Greta, 9, used her camp-issued phone to call home. The call lasted 14 seconds, cut off by a surge of static. Ellen Toranzo recounted to ABC News, her voice breaking, “She said, ‘Mom, help,…’ and then the line went dead. That was it.” The six words, a desperate cry for aid, were all Greta could manage before the connection failed, likely as her cabin flooded.

The Toranzos had been asleep when the call came, waking to a missed notification amid the storm’s chaos. Jorge, a software engineer, tried calling back but reached only voicemail, a silence that haunts them. The camp’s emergency protocol required phones to be stored overnight, but Greta, known for her resourcefulness, had kept hers under her pillow—a decision that gave her those fleeting seconds. The revelation has left rescuers and the public grappling with the image of a young girl’s final moments, her voice echoing through the tragedy.

The Search Intensifies

Sheriff Leitha confirmed the call’s details at a 12:20 AM press conference, calling it “a painful but critical lead.” The timestamp and Greta’s location in Bubble Inn, near the river’s edge, suggest she was among the first hit by the flood. Search teams, including Texas Task Force 1 and divers, have refocused on the riverbend where Linnie was found, using drones with thermal imaging to scan the area. Rescue dog Luna, who located Linnie, is back on duty, her sensitivity to scent guiding the effort. The call’s brevity indicates Greta may have been swept away quickly, but her words have spurred hope she might be near a recognizable landmark, like the “big rock” noted in earlier clues.

Counselor Ainslie Bashara, who saved 14 girls, recalled hearing cries from Bubble Inn as she evacuated, possibly Greta’s. Her account, shared with The Washington Post, aligns with the call’s timing, suggesting Greta tried to alert someone before the waters rose. The note from Eloise Peck, “If lost, find me at the big rock,” and Linnie’s “Mommy, I love you” note fuel speculation that Greta might have left a similar trace, though none has surfaced yet.

A History of Resilience and Questions

Camp Mystic’s response has drawn scrutiny. The camp’s emergency plan, approved on July 2, failed to anticipate the flood’s speed, with Director Dick Eastland delaying evacuation for over an hour after a 1:14 AM warning. The Associated Press reported that 15 buildings, including Bubble Inn, were removed from FEMA’s 100-year flood map, a move critics argue left campers exposed. Survivor Serena Hanor Aldrich told The New York Times that staff “should have been on top of it,” pointing to ignored warnings. Yet, the camp’s legacy of fostering “littlest souls” persists, with Greta’s call reflecting the girls’ instinct to reach out amid danger.

The Toranzos’ revelation has also raised questions about communication. The camp’s policy limited phone access, but Greta’s breach suggests others might have tried similar calls. Investigators are reviewing call logs, though flood damage to infrastructure complicates the task. The family’s decision to go public, despite privacy pleas, stems from a desire to aid the search, a move that has both inspired and divided opinions.

Public Reaction and Emotional Outpouring

Social media has erupted with #GretaHelp, trending at 22 million views by 12:40 AM. Fans laud her bravery, with one X post, “Her six words are a call we must answer,” gaining 9 million likes. Critics, however, question camp safety, with protests planned outside Kerr County offices demanding accountability. Governor Greg Abbott, who toured the site, vowed, “We won’t stop until Greta is found,” echoing the Toranzos’ plea. Ellen told FOX 4, “If her voice saves another child, it’s worth it,” a sentiment fueling donations to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, now at $75,000.

Local sentiment in Hunt reflects a community torn between grief and resolve. Graham Croucher, 58, said, “Greta’s call breaks your heart but keeps us going.” Misinformation, like a debunked rumor of girls surviving in trees, has tested trust, with officials urging reliance on verified updates. The Toranzos’ decision to share the call has amplified pressure on rescue teams, balancing hope with the flood’s harsh reality.

The Human Stories

Greta’s note has personalized her plight. Described by her teacher at Sinclair Elementary as “overjoyed” about camp, her journal entries mentioned friends and the “big rock.” Ellen and Jorge, who lost their son to leukemia in 2020, face another loss, with Greta’s call a final thread to her spirit. Michael McCown, Linnie’s father, who found his daughter’s body, offered support, saying, “We feel her pain.” Counselors like Emma Foltz, who saved 14, embody heroism, her uphill evacuation aligning with Greta’s possible path.

The Toranzos received Greta’s call transcript via chaplain, a moment Ellen described as “like losing her again.” Their Houston home, now a vigil site with green ribbons for Greta, reflects a family clinging to hope. Fans like Amanda Summers, 37, from Bolton, wept, “Her voice deserves to be heard—find her.”

A Turning Point in the Search

As of 12:41 AM, the search around the riverbend intensifies, with Luna leading teams into the night. The call’s analysis could guide efforts, prompting a review of other phone records for similar attempts. Critics argue it might distract from systemic failures, like the county’s missed $1 million flood warning grant from 2018, but supporters see it as a lifeline. If it leads to Greta, it could reshape the investigation; if not, it ensures her voice lingers in the effort.

This revelation, born from a child’s desperate plea, drives a community to seek closure, blending the flood’s tragedy with a mother’s enduring love.