On July 4, a deadly flood swept through Kerr County, Texas, tragically killing 27 people—most of them children—at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp. The flood struck while many campers were asleep in cabins located in a high-risk floodway along the Guadalupe River. This disaster has brought attention to the dangers facing summer camps built near flood-prone areas in Texas’ Hill Country.
Camp Mystic’s cabins where the victims were found sit right in the Guadalupe River floodway. This zone is considered the most dangerous during floods. Other buildings at Mystic sit in the 100-year floodplain, an area still prone to flooding in bad storms but seen as less risky than the floodway itself. Unfortunately, this camp is not alone. A recent analysis found 13 summer camps along the Guadalupe River have at least some buildings in areas prone to flooding, with 12 of those camps straddling the 100-year floodplain.
Five camps, including Camp Mystic, have a third or more of their structures in this floodplain. Other camps at similar risk include Heart O’ the Hills Camp—which lost its longtime director in the flood—as well as Camp Capers, Camp Stewart for Boys, and Camp Waldemar. Unlike Mystic, Camp Waldemar’s cabins sit on higher ground above the floodplain, allowing campers to stay safe on site during the flood.
Experts say that flood maps used to guide building and insurance decisions are outdated. The 100-year floodplain maps are based on rainfall data from decades ago. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns have caused heavier rainfalls and more frequent storms, making flood risks greater than what old maps show. This means campers and their families may not have a full picture of danger when camps are built near rivers.
Most of the camps along the Guadalupe River were built before modern flood rules were put in place. Many have “grandfathered” status, which exempts them from stricter regulations and often results in lower flood insurance rates. Camp Mystic, for example, was able to petition FEMA multiple times to remove parts of its property from the floodplain maps before expanding. However, buildings that are seriously damaged by flooding can lose this status when repaired or rebuilt.
Texas law adds to the challenge. Since most camps lie outside city boundaries, county governments cannot enforce zoning rules that might restrict building in flood-prone zones. This means camps can still be constructed in risky areas with little regulation.
Some new laws are moving through the Texas legislature to improve safety. For example, House Bill 19 would require all properties with camping cabins to create a flood disaster plan, though the specifics of these plans are still being defined. Another proposal calls for all campgrounds in floodplains to have evacuation procedures for flash flood warnings, and for cabins to be outfitted with ladders so people can climb on roofs if necessary.
Camp directors and experts stress that better education about flood risks and stronger warning systems are essential. Camps naturally want to be near water for recreation, but they must also plan for emergencies. At Camp CAMP in Center Point, a camp built high above the river, leaders avoided building permanent structures near the water and managed to limit damage, although some equipment was lost. Its chief operating officer said the massive flood came without warning, highlighting the need for better alerts and preparation.
The July 4 flood exposed how vulnerable many summer camps are to extreme weather and flooding. As the climate changes, heavy rains are becoming more common in Texas, and the risk of similar disasters is growing. Updating flood maps, enforcing building standards, and ensuring camps have clear emergency plans will be crucial steps to protect children and staff in the future.