Texas Denies Camp Mystic License Over Safety Plan Flaws

Texas state health officials have denied Camp Mystic a license to reopen this summer until it addresses nearly two dozen deficiencies in its emergency preparedness plan, less than a year after a flash flood at the Christian girls' summer camp claimed 27 lives.

The Texas Department of State Health Services issued an 11-page notice on Thursday to the camp in Hunt, detailing shortcomings in its flood warning, evacuation procedures, staff responsibilities, and accommodations for campers with disabilities. The agency identified 22 specific issues, including the absence of floodplain maps showing cabin locations relative to flood risks, unclear protocols for notifying parents and coordinating with 911 services, and insufficient plans for maintaining weather alert systems or training staff on emergency responses. Officials gave the camp 45 days to submit revisions for approval as part of its licensing application.

Camp Mystic, which plans to partially reopen its Cypress Lake site in late May for its 100th season, stated it is reviewing the notice and collaborating with the department. "Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our campers, and we hope to continue the nearly...