Families sue Texas health officials, alleging negligence after a tragic flood killed nine at Camp Mystic. They claim ignored evacuation plans worsened the disaster.
KERR COUNTY, Texas — The parents of nine Camp Mystic campers and counselors who died in the July 4 Hill Country flood are suing six members of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
27 girls and counselors from the camp in Hunt, Texas, died when Guadalupe River floodwaters rose quickly from a heavy rain storm. The girls and counselors were from two cabins closest to the river and were instructed to stay in their cabins as the waters rose.
The lawsuit claims that the agency failed to uphold current law that was in effect at the time of the deadly flood. Texas law states that licensed youth camps must have an emergency plan that specifically includes a plan for evacuation. The lawsuit says that DSHS checked the camp’s emergency plan, but did not enforce the aspect of having an evacuation plan. Camp Mystic’s plan reportedly called for campers and counselors to stay in their cabins during an emergency.
Camp Mystic victims’ families say it was exactly that policy that led to the girls and counselors losing precious time to escape the danger.
“The DSHS officials responsible for licensing youth camps deliberately looked the other way,” said attorney Paul Yetter, who is representing the families. “While Camp Mystic bears responsibility and is also being sued, state officials knew the camp’s emergency plan lacked a required evacuation component and still licensed it as safe.”
The defendants include DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford and five other agency officials involved in camp oversight and inspection. KENS 5 has reached out to the Department of State Health Services and the agency says it has not been served with the lawsuit and cannot comment on pending litigation.
This comes after a separate lawsuit was filed by victims’ families against Camp Mystic itself, alleging the camp failed to protect the campers and young counselors and accuses the camp of “negligence and reckless disregard.”
Camp Mystic is nearly 100 years old and is considered a premium name in Hill Country youth camps with multiple generations of women sending their daugthers and granddaughters there. The camp’s license remains in effect and the camp has announced plans to reopen this summer.