Families of Camp Mystic Victims Push for New Safety Laws

Families of the 27 campers and counselors who lost their lives in the July 4 flood at Camp Mystic are turning their grief into advocacy. They have formed the Campaign for Camp Safety, a coalition urging Texas lawmakers to adopt legislation that would strengthen protections at youth camps statewide.

According to The Houston Chronicle, on Friday, members of the group traveled to Austin to meet with Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows, who all pledged to take action, according to a coalition news release. Camp safety is now listed as the top priority among 19 agenda items in Abbott’s proclamation for the Legislature’s second special session.

Families’ Legislative Priorities

The coalition is calling for a slate of reforms to reduce risks at Texas youth camps. Their recommendations include:

• Moving camp structures out of floodplains and hazardous areas
  
• Requiring local emergency management offices to trigger formal campsite responses during emergencies
  
• Establishing evacuation standards and mandating emergency drills for campers and staff

“This special session, the Campaign for Camp Safety is advocating for an investigation into the preventable aspects of the mass casualties at Camp Mystic and promoting priority bills HB 1 and SB 1,” a coalition spokesperson said. “We hope these measures will ensure better response and preparedness for future weather events and other risks inherent to the summer camp experience.”