Texas Camp's Emergency Plan Questioned After Deadly Floods

Two days before a devastating flood in Central Texas killed 27 people at a youth camp, a state inspector confirmed that the camp had an emergency plan in place. However, the adequacy of the plan and how closely it was followed remain unclear. The inspector found no deficiencies or violations during the annual inspection on July 2, but the camp's emergency plan did not account for communication breakdowns, and the campers' location in flood-prone areas raises concerns.

Key Takeaways:

• A state inspector visited Camp Mystic two days before the deadly floods and certified that the camp had an emergency plan in place.
• The plan was required to include evacuation procedures and emergency shelter plans, but it's unclear if the campers were actually informed about the plan.
• The inspector found no deficiencies or violations during the annual inspection, but the camp had been hit with a few violations in recent years related to food preparation and documentation of experience or training for instructors.
• The camp's emergency plan did not account for communication breakdowns, including a power outage that meant the loudspeaker public address system was not working.
• Some of the cabins where campers were staying are located in the Guadalupe River's "regulatory floodways", which are the areas that flood first and are most dangerous.
• The Texas regulations for youth camps do not take into account flood zones, and the state records do not show the annual inspections of Camp Mystic considering this factor.

Statistics:

• 27 people killed in the floods at Camp Mystic
• 386 campers and 64 staff members staying at the Guadalupe River section of the camp
• 171 campers and 44 staff at the nearby Cypress Lake section of the camp
• 4 a.m. power outage that caused communication breakdowns
• 1% chance of flooding per year in the area where most of the cabins are located
• No deficiencies or violations found during the annual inspection on July 2

Sources:

• CNN, CNN (CNN) --
• Lara Anton, spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services
• KSAT, report by CNN obtained through a public records request