Is it normal to be scared of stuff ?

My cousin is going to her campsite to the river next week she's scared to go she heard about the little kid who go taken by an alligator at Disneyworld right in front of his parents. She's worried the same thing will happen to her. She said she's heard Disney is suppose to be the happiest place on earth for kids now it makes her sad and scared. She doesn't want to go swimming this year. She hasn't been swimming get this year. She's afraid to swim in the river she's even afraid to get in the pool or in the tub. She says this is the saddest story she's ever heard. She's been upset about it all week. She says it wasn't no accident it was stupid parents not watching they're kid she said she's gonna write a letter to them telling them not to have anymore kids. She's in a play this weekend she said she told her friends she's going camping this weekend she said to them if she's not at rehersal or the play next week to have them remind her how much she liked everyone. She's afraid she's not gonna make it home like that boy did. She even had a nightmare last night. She has to go her mom and aunt and brother already made plans. We're in south east Ohio there aren't alligators here except in the zoo she knows that but she's still scared. Is it normal for her to be scared ? How can I comfort her ? She's 11