Texas Camp Tragedy: Inspection Cleared Site Days Before Deadly Flood
Emergency plans under scrutiny after catastrophic event at Camp Mystic.
Just two days before devastating floods at Camp Mystic, Texas state inspectors had approved the camp’s emergency preparedness plans. The disaster resulted in over two dozen deaths, most of whom were children at the all-girls Christian summer camp, raising questions about the effectiveness of those plans.
Inspection Details
Records released by the Department of State Health Services on Wednesday indicated that the camp met state regulations concerning “procedures to be implemented in case of a disaster.”
This included instructing campers on evacuation protocols and assigning specific duties to staff and counselors. However, five years of inspection reports don’t provide specifics.
Notably, the National Weather Service had issued a flood watch for the region on July 3rd. Some camps along the Guadalupe River took precautions and moved campers to higher ground, but Camp Mystic, established in 1926, did not evacuate.
River’s Rise and Camp’s Response
Early in the morning, the Guadalupe River surged from 4.2 meters to 9 meters within an hour, far exceeding the flood stage of 3 meters. A surge of water inundated cabins, tents, and trailers along the riverbank. Some survivors were found clinging to trees.
At least 27 campers and counselors died in the floods. As of Tuesday, five campers and one counselor remain missing. Among the deceased was **Richard “Dick” Eastland**, the camp’s director.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Texas does not require summer camps to be licensed; however, camps must adhere to basic health and safety standards (NCSL, 2023). This incident prompts a review of these standards and their enforcement.
Eyewitness Account
**Charlotte Lauten**, who spent nine summers at Camp Mystic, stated that she didn’t recall ever receiving instructions as a camper on what do in the case of a weather emergency.
She added, This is the middle of nowhere and they didn’t have power… It would have been pitch black, like could not see five feet in front of you type of darkness.
State’s Perspective
On July 2nd, the same day the state inspected Camp Mystic, the Texas Division of Emergency Management activated emergency response resources. The inspection found no health and safety violations. At the time, the camp housed 557 campers and over 100 staff members across two locations.
**Lara Anton**, spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services, clarified that disaster plans are not filed with the state. We do not have them. You’d have to get it from the camp,
she stated.
Camp Mystic has not yet commented on its emergency plan but stated on its website that it is in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.
Accreditation Status
Camp Mystic is state-licensed and a member of the Camping Association for Mutual Progress. However, the American Camp Association said Camp Mystic is not accredited with their organization.
Gauge Failures
One rain gauge near Camp Mystic recorded 24cm of rain on July 4th, while another recorded 31cm. The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority confirmed that both gauges were functioning. However, at least four United States Geological Survey gauges along the Guadalupe River experienced failures.
A gauge northeast of Camp Mystic recorded a river level of 9 meters at 4:35 AM before failing. Later, a hydrologist measured the high water mark at 11.44 meters.
