In brief
Following a devastating flood on July 4 that resulted in the loss of 27 lives at Camp Mystic, the camp is preparing to reopen next summer. The management assures families that new safety protocols will be implemented. Additionally, the camp will construct a memorial to honor those who perished, capturing their spirit and joy. This announcement follows the successful advocacy by parents for improved safety legislation in Texas camps.
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Camp Mystic plans to reopen next summer near the site where 27 girls and counselors tragically lost their lives in a July flood. The campers and counselors were swept away by rapidly rising floodwaters from the Guadalupe River during a devastating event that resulted in at least 136 fatalities across Texas. The camp has assured families that its reopening will adhere to strict new safety protocols established following advocacy efforts by families who lost children in the flood.In an email notification sent to the victims' families, camp officials stated that they would follow guidelines established by recently passed safety legislation to prevent tragedies like the one that occurred. The camp also announced intentions to build a memorial honoring the girls who perished, aiming to capture their beauty, kindness, and joy in its design.Parents of the victims successfully lobbied for legislative reforms to enhance safety in children's camps. The measures include prohibiting cabins in high-risk flood zones, requiring comprehensive emergency plans, training for staff, and the installation of emergency warning systems. State funds have been allocated for disaster relief as part of these reforms.This decision means that Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, which opened to campers in 2020, will welcome children next summer, while the original Camp Mystic Guadalupe site, heavily damaged in the flooding, will remain closed as engineers assess required changes for future safety improvements.
