Texas Lawmakers Discuss Camp Safety After Deadly Floods

Hill Country Camp Safety Hearing

• 🎯 Lawmakers convened for a House Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Committee hearing to discuss youth camp emergency preparedness and flood response.
• ⚠️ The hearing followed testimony from owners of Hill Country camps impacted by deadly July 4 floods.

Impact of the Floods

• 💔 The floods resulted in at least 137 deaths, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic.
• 🌊 One testimony described water rising 18 inches into a cabin at a speed of about 1 mile per hour.

Proposed Safety Bills

• 📜 Nearly a dozen bills have been filed during the special session to improve camp safety.
• 🚨 Proposed measures include evacuation drills, sirens, and stocking cabins with life jackets.
• 📝 Some proposals suggest input from the Texas Division of Emergency Management on emergency plans.
• 📚 Camp staff should be trained in emergency procedures, with plans posted in appropriate areas.

Current Emergency Plan Review

• 📊 Currently, each of the 375 youth camps in Texas has its own emergency management plan.
• 🔍 The Texas Health and Human Services reviews these plans only once a year.