Camp Mystic, a well-known girls’ summer camp in Kerr County, Texas, was hit by a sudden and devastating flash flood on July 4, claiming the lives of at least 27 campers, counselors, and the camp’s longtime owner, Dick Eastland. The camp sits along the Guadalupe River in an area prone to flash floods, but a review by The Associated Press shows federal flood maps and regulations may have missed warning signs before the tragedy.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had placed Camp Mystic on its 100-year flood hazard map in 2011. This classification means the area has a 1% chance of severe flooding in any year and requires camps and buildings to have flood insurance and follow stricter rules for construction. Despite this, FEMA granted several appeals over the years to remove many of the camp’s buildings from the flood zone. In 2013, 15 structures were exempted, and in 2019 and 2020, 15 more buildings at a newer camp site nearby were removed from the hazardous area designation.
Experts suggest these appeals might have been attempts to avoid costly flood insurance or to make construction and renovations easier, since buildings outside the flood zone face fewer regulations. Sarah Pralle, a Syracuse University professor who studies FEMA’s flood maps, found it troubling that a camp caring for children was allowed to bypass basic flood safety rules. She also noted that FEMA approves roughly 90% of such appeals, often benefiting wealthier, newer properties.
Camp Mystic recently expanded to a second location called Camp Mystic Cypress Lake. While this site saw less damage during the flood, analysis shows it still lies in a risky area when heavy rain fills nearby waterways. FEMA’s maps don’t always account for smaller creeks and streams that can cause flooding, which could explain why some risk was overlooked.
The flood that swept through the area was much worse than what FEMA’s maps predicted. It happened quickly and during the night, catching many by surprise. Local officials allowed the camp to keep growing after the appeals, and state inspections just days before the flood showed the camp was operating with hundreds of campers and staff.
FEMA stated that its flood maps are only minimum guides and don’t predict every flood. Meanwhile, county officials did not respond to requests for comment about the camp’s expansion and the approvals.
The tragedy raises questions about how well flood risks are managed in vulnerable areas and whether more could have been done to protect the children and staff at Camp Mystic. Though the flood was historic and intense, experts argue that relying on minimum standards without stronger safeguards can leave people exposed to disasters.