flood plan just two days before a catastrophic flood, which killed over two dozen people, mostly children, raises serious concerns about regulatory oversight and camper safety. While inspectors confirmed the camp met state regulations for disaster procedures on July 2, critical details of the plan remained unclear, a fact that is particularly alarming in light of the subsequent tragedy.
The missing in the hard-hit Kerr County include five campers and one counsellor from Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp located on the banks of Guadalupe river.
Kerrville area alone, Abbott said in a news conference on Tuesday.
Texas is not alone. New Mexico saw a flash flood emergency as well, with the National Weather Service (NWS) warning of intense flooding on Tuesday night.
In Texas, frantic search and rescue efforts continue, with Abbott vowing emergency crews "will not stop until every missing person is accounted for".
The state health department does not maintain copies of youth camp emergency plans, but they are reviewed during each annual inspection, said Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the agency. Plans for disasters “would include flooding,” she noted.
Texas Department of State Health Services had signed off on the youth camp's emergency plans just two days before the disaster struck the camp, ABC News reported. A 2 July inspection report indicates the camp had emergency plans "in case of a disaster" in place and that staff and volunteers were briefed during training sessions.
Despite receiving warnings from the National Weather Service as early as 3:30 a.m. on July 3 and an official flood watch issued later that day , Camp Mystic's administration chose not to evacuate its more than 650 campers and staff. This decision exemplifies a troubling disconnect between regulatory compliance and practical implementation of safety measures. The failure to relocate campers not only reflects poorly on management practices but also underscores a potential systemic issue within emergency preparedness protocols in recreational settings.
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