The operators of Camp Mystic in Texas, where 25 girls and two teenage counselors died in catastrophic flooding on July 4, are facing legal action from the victims' families. A lawsuit has been filed in Austin state court, seeking over $1 million in damages. The suit alleges serious failures in safety protocols as the camp plans to reopen next summer, resurfacing outrage from family members amidst ongoing grief.
Key to the lawsuit is that camp authorities reportedly instructed a groundskeeper to spend over an hour moving equipment while campers were told to remain in their cabins, highlighting negligence amid a life-threatening situation. Claiming that profit over safety was prioritized, the lawsuit further alleges that policy decisions placed campers in harm's way, as cabins were situated in flood-prone areas without proper evacuation plans.
Defendants include Camp Mystic, its owners, and the estate of camp owner Richard Eastland, who also perished in the flooding event. Additional lawsuits have surfaced, echoing the same concerns over potential negligence and safety failures. The tragic flooding, which was characterized by a dramatic rise from 14 feet to nearly 30 feet in just an hour, led to serious scrutiny of operational standards and regulations governing such establishments.
As the community grapples with this tragedy, family members are seeking justice and accountability, emphasizing that important reforms in camper safety are needed to prevent future occurrences. Ryan DeWitt, whose daughter was among the victims, expressed hope that these legal actions could clarify events leading to the disaster and foster critical changes to ensure such tragedies are avoided in the future.
