The operators of Camp Mystic in Texas, where 25 girls and two teenage counselors lost their lives in catastrophic flooding on July 4, allegedly failed to take necessary precautions as floodwaters approached, according to a lawsuit filed by the victims' families.
The lawsuit, lodged in state court in Austin, seeks over $1 million in damages, although an exact figure is not specified. The filing comes amid backlash from families against plans to reopen the century-old camp next summer.
Key allegations in the suit assert that camp staff prioritized the relocation of equipment over the safety of campers, ordering them to remain in cabins situated near the Guadalupe River even as floodwaters inundated the area.
The complaint was brought forth by the relatives of five campers and the two deceased counselors.
These young girls died because a for-profit camp put profit over safety, the lawsuit states. The camp chose to house young girls in cabins sitting in flood-prone areas, despite the risk, to avoid the cost of relocating the cabins.
The suit argues that the camp's operators failed to have adequate plans for evacuating campers as mandated by state regulations, choosing instead to keep campers in their cabins. Defendants named include Camp Mystic and its affiliates along with the estate of deceased camp owner Richard Eastland.
A separate lawsuit with similar allegations was filed by another family of a camper who died.
The flooding catastrophe claimed at least 136 lives, raising substantial questions about emergency preparedness and response among local authorities. Following the tragedies experienced at Camp Mystic, significant legislative changes have been prompted to enhance safety protocols at summer camps in Texas.
Ryan DeWitt, father of one of the deceased campers, emphasized the importance of the lawsuit for justice and future safety reforms: We trust that through this process, light will be shed on what happened, and our hope is that justice will pave the way for prevention and much-needed safety reform.
