KERR COUNTY, Texas — Texas state health officials have found significant gaps in Camp Mystic’s emergency preparedness, ordering the camp to fix and resubmit its safety plan.
Camp officials have submitted an application to renew their license for the Cypress Lake portion of the camp. The Texas Department of State Health Services is the state agency who ultimately determines whether or not a youth camp license is approved. Should it be renewed it would allow Camp Mystic to partly reopen this summer.
Twenty-seven campers and counselors were staying in the camp's Guadalupe portion of the campus when they died in the flooding there last July 4.
In a deficiency letter obtained by KHOU 11, DSHS said the camp’s current emergency plan doesn’t meet several requirements under the state’s new Texas Youth Camp Safety and Health Act and related rules.
In a statement, a DSHS spokesperson said: "This is a part of the licensing application review process, and most youth camps have received a notice of deficiency letter for their emergency plan due to the statutory changes and increased emergency plan requirements. The emergency plans are confidential by law so that cannot be released."
The 11-page letter found 22 deficiencies in Camp Mystic's Emergency plan. 13 are deemed insufficient, which includes the camp's natural disaster plan, flash flood warning plan and emergency warning system. Seven of the deficiencies are considered incomplete, which includes a transportation emergency plan and camper safety training. Two deficiencies are for missing items, the camp's floodplain location and emergency plans to staff.
There were issues noted with several plans for the camp, which include their fire plan, sever injury/severe illness/serious injury/ death plan, aquatic emergency plan, epidemic plan, unauthorized individual plan, transportation emergency plan, natural disaster plan, flash flood warning evacuation plan, evacuation plan, evacuation plan for NWS notice, shelter in place plan, emergency plans to staff and a parent emergency plan provision.
State health officials also found recurring issues with notifying authorities in a disaster. They wrote "procedures do not clearly assign responsibility for initiating 911 contact."
There were also missing or incomplete maps, unclear staff roles during emergencies, and shortcomings in planning for campers with disabilities or other access and functional needs.
The letter breaks down concerns by category, including fire, flood, medical, and transportation emergencies, and provides specific recommendations for each.
Camp Mystic released the following statement:
"Camp Mystic - along with other Texas camps - recently received a deficiency letter from the Texas Department of Health Services (DSHS) regarding Camp Mystic's application for licensure for its Cypress Lake campus."
"Camp Mystic is carefully reviewing the notice from DSHS and we are working closely with DSHS through the appropriate process to address the areas outlined. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our campers, and we hope to continue the nearly century-long mission and ministry of Camp Mystic to provide a Christian camping experience for girls that allows them to grow physically, mentally and spiritually."
Camp officials are required to address those issues and upload a corrected plan to the state within the 45-day deadline. The letter comes days ahead of Texas's Joint State Investigating Committee meeting to present investigative findings on the July 2025 flloding disaster.
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