Camp Mystic Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Girls evacuating during at the beginning of the flood from 
cabins to the Rec Hall. 

Some sad news out of Texas: Camp Mystic, the Christian girls camp along the Guadalupe River in Texas since 1926, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. That means they are going to ask a court to deal with their debts with hope of reopening at some point. 

Of course, Mystic was the camp where 28 girls and adults perished during the extreme flash flood the morning of July 4, 2025. The State of Texas has found the planning for flash floods, especially since the camp was right next to a river know for flooding, was wholly inadequate. The report of the Texas Senate was released yesterday and it is here.

Given the nature of Chapter 11, it is likely the owners of the camp will lose their equity and the camp may be sold to others. Whether anyone will come forward is unknown. 

While the owners of the camp deserve a great deal of criticism for the lack of meteorological preparedness (based on evidence that has come forward in litigation, they wouldn't have done any better in a tornado or wildfire), I am concerned about the vindictiveness being expressed by some is misplaced. After all, the owner of the camp gave his own life trying to rescue the girls. 

Plus, all the blame certainly does not belong to the camp ownership and management. While the National Weather Service did an adequate job, the three emergency managers in Kerr County did absolutely nothing! And I mean literally nothing. All slept through the event. None had weather radios. At least two had their phones turned off with the NWS frantically trying to reach them! The Texas Senate's report, while quite good in many aspects, does not hold the emergency managers accountable as it should.

While the management of camps should be weather aware, have quality emergency plans, and continuously monitor the weather (via weather radio or similar device) when the camp is in season, the emergency managers are paid to do all this plus to have plans ready to put into effect when an incipient disaster presents itself. 

And, for any camp managers or owners who may be reading this, AccuWeather has a service for camps that I believe is well worth your time to check out. Please!...let's make sure this never happens again.