As floodwaters rose in Texas, camp counselors hoisted children onto rafters, carried them to dry ground and sang with them to keep them calm.

Experts say camps offer the opportunity to try skills and social situations while developing a stronger sense of self in the safety of communities that share values.

Brooklyn and Bailey McKnight's little sister, Paisley, was at a camp on a smaller arm of the Guadalupe River. The 14-year-old was "just miles" away from Camp Mystic in Central Texas, which has been devastated by the deadly floodwaters spurred by extreme rainfall on July 4.

The American Camp Association advises parents to ask camps about their safety plans, including severe weather protocols and relationships with local emergency services. Some camps, even those far from danger,

Camp officials across the country said they had heard from worried parents after the Texas floods. As they try to reassure them, some camps are adding more safety procedures.

At least 19 of the cabins at Camp Mystic were located in designated flood zones, including some in an area deemed “extremely hazardous” by the county.

Follow for live updates in the Texas flooding as the death toll rises to 120, as rescue operations start to shift to recovery phase

The camp where 27 girls died successfully challenged initial risk designations by US regulators, according to reports.