State officials cite multiple safety deficiencies as condition for reconsidering license following 2025 disaster that killed 27.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Texas regulators have informed Camp Mystic that it cannot reopen at this time, citing significant shortcomings in its emergency preparedness plan following a 2025 flash flood that resulted in 27 deaths at the facility.
The Texas Health and Human Services Department issued an 11-page deficiency notice identifying nearly two dozen issues in the camp’s flood response and evacuation procedures. The document gives camp officials 45 days to submit a revised emergency plan addressing the concerns as part of the state’s licensing review process.
According to the notice, 22 elements of the camp’s emergency flood plan were classified as “insufficient,” “missing,” or “incomplete,” requiring corrective action before compliance standards can be met.
Among the deficiencies cited were the absence of clearly defined evacuation routes and a lack of assigned responsibilities for staff during emergency situations. State officials also noted that the plan did not adequately address procedures for assisting individuals with access and functional needs during evacuations.
“The plan should include clearly defined procedures for assisting individuals with access and functional needs, such as assigning specific staff to provide assistance, establishing a buddy system, ensuring accessible evacuation routes, accommodating assistive devices, addressing transportation needs, and ensuring emergency warnings are accessible,” the department stated in its findings.
Regulators further identified gaps in the camp’s weather monitoring protocols, including the lack of a designated staff member responsible for maintaining and monitoring the facility’s weather-alert radio system.
A spokesperson for the department said the notice was sent as Camp Mystic sought to reopen for the upcoming summer season with updated safety measures. The spokesperson also indicated that similar notices have been issued to many youth camps across the state following strengthened safety standards implemented after the 2025 flooding.
Camp Mystic said it is reviewing the notice. The Texas Tribune reported that camp officials acknowledged receipt of the findings, while representatives did not immediately respond to additional inquiries.
The enforcement action follows the July 4, 2025 disaster, when intense rainfall in Texas Hill Country caused the Guadalupe River to rapidly rise, inundating the camp. The flooding resulted in the deaths of 27 campers and staff members.
The broader flooding event across the region led to nearly 140 fatalities, making it one of the deadliest freshwater flood disasters in U.S. history.
State officials have since increased scrutiny of emergency preparedness requirements for youth camps, with the Camp Mystic review reflecting heightened regulatory expectations in the aftermath of the disaster.
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