Camp Mystic's emergency plan was found to be in place during state inspections, two days before the deadly floods occurred.
In the heart of Texas, Camp Mystic, a popular summer destination for young campers, found itself in the midst of a flood disaster on July 4. The rapid rise of waters left some campers and counselors stranded, unable to evacuate in time.
Despite this unfortunate incident, it is important to note that Camp Mystic's emergency plan requirements were being complied with, according to a state inspector who visited the camp last week. The camp's annual inspections, conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services, have shown compliance with emergency planning rules for the past four years.
However, the incident has raised questions about the adequacy of the camp's emergency plan, particularly in light of the camp's location in flood-prone areas. While state regulations require youth camps like Camp Mystic to have a written emergency plan that includes procedures for disasters like floods, they do not specifically address flood zones or the adequacy of plans in such areas.
The camp's emergency plan includes provisions for emergency shelter and evacuation. However, the accountability for communication breakdowns during emergencies, such as the one experienced during the flood, remains unclear. A power outage around 4 a.m. on the day of the flood caused the camp's loudspeaker public address system to fail, and some staff members, like Caroline Cutrona, a Camp Mystic counselor, did not receive cell phone alerts about the flash flooding.
The Texas regulations for youth camps do not address flood zones, and the state records do not show the annual inspections taking this into account. The state health department does not maintain copies of youth camp emergency plans, but they are reviewed during each annual inspection. During the July 2 inspection, there were 386 campers and 64 staff members at the Guadalupe River section of the camp, and 171 campers and 44 staff at the Cypress Lake section.
Despite the challenges faced during the flood, Camp Mystic's staff and volunteers demonstrated commendable resilience. They helped young campers climb a hill to evacuate to higher ground during the flood. The camp's buildings and structures were also found to be safe, with none presenting a safety hazard, all buildings complying with applicable building and safety codes, and all permanent structures in good repair.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of reviewing and enhancing emergency plans to better address high-risk areas. As summer approaches, camps across Texas and the nation will be reviewing their own emergency plans, with a renewed focus on flood zones and communication systems.
- The incident at Camp Mystic has sparked discussions about the need for youth camps, especially those located in flood-prone areas like Camp Mystic, to have emergency plans that adequately address flood zones and communication systems during disasters.
- In the aftermath of the flood, it is evident that improving the communication system and addressing flood zones in Camp Mystic's emergency plan could have mitigated some of the challenges faced during the disaster, focusing on the importance of science, health-and-wellness, mental-health, fitness-and-exercise, in ensuring the safety and well-being of all campers and staff.
