Camp Mystic's Flood: What Went Wrong?

Camp Mystic, a popular youth camp in Texas, faced a tragic flood in July 2025. At least 27 people lost their lives. This happened just days after state inspectors approved the camp's emergency plans. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) gave the camp a clean bill of health on July 2. They said the camp had plans for disasters like floods and tornadoes. They also said staff and volunteers were trained on these plans. But the flood hit hard. The camp's central gathering space, the Recreation Hall, was badly damaged. Trees were knocked down. Cabins were destroyed. People had to sort through their belongings in the aftermath. The flood showed that even with plans, things can go wrong. The DSHS said camps must make their own emergency plans. These plans must follow state rules. Inspectors check if the plans are in place and if staff know what to do. But the details of Camp Mystic's plans were not released. The inspection report said the camp met all regulations. It did not mention any problems. At the time of the inspection, Camp Mystic had 557 campers and 108 staff members. They were split between two locations: Guadalupe and Cypress Lake. The flood raised questions about how well these plans work in real-life situations. It also made people think about how to improve safety at camps.