Blab News
One Year After Texas Hill Country Floods, Camp Mystic Families Push for Safety Laws and Accountability
On July 4, 2025, a flash flood slammed the Texas Hill Country, sending the Guadalupe River to a staggering 38 feet and destroying homes across the region. The deluge claimed more than 130 lives, 117 of them in Kerr County, and brought a tragic 28‑person death toll to Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls’ summer camp near Hunt. Camp Mystic’s losses included 25 campers, two counselors, and the director.
A year later, families who lost loved ones at Camp Mystic have turned grief into advocacy. Matthew and Wendie Childress, parents of 18‑year‑old Chloe, a counselor who perished that night, founded the group “Heaven’s 27” to honor the 27 children who died. At a memorial held on July 12 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Matthew Childress addressed a packed congregation, describing his daughter as a hero who guided campers to safety as the waters rose.
The Childresses and other survivors met with Texas leaders—including Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows—in sessions that each lasted an hour and a half. The families asked the officials to make camp safety a priority in the next special session of the legislature.
In September 2025, Abbott signed a package of laws aimed at tightening camp safety. The legislation earmarked nearly $300 million for relief and flood‑preparedness improvements and imposed new requirements: state‑approved emergency plans for all youth camps, mandatory training for campers, and specific equipment—such as ladders—for cabins in floodplains. Crucially, camps must evacuate if the National Weather Service issues a flood warning.
Camp Mystic announced plans to reopen part of its grounds but later decided not to operate this year and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing has stalled pending lawsuits. Families have sued for more than $1 million in damages, alleging that camp leaders failed to evacuate campers and counselors despite worsening conditions.
In April, a Texas judge ordered three days of open testimony. Camp owners, the Eastlands, admitted to delayed action, the absence of a written evacuation plan, and the movement of canoes before evacuating girls. The testimony confirmed that camp leaders began evacuating 45 minutes after the flood began.
The Texas Senate and House released investigation reports in June that echoed these findings, noting the lack of a written evacuation plan and the delayed response by staff.
The families’ work has crossed state lines. In April, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, mirroring Texas’ requirements. Similar bills have been introduced in Maryland, Missouri and Oklahoma.
According to the source, Matthew Childress describes the advocacy as a “night job” that gives him purpose. He has testified before state committees and written an op‑ed for the Houston Chronicle, arguing that without their work the events of that night could have faded from public scrutiny.
Legal proceedings remain in motion. Jury trials for the lawsuits were scheduled for next year, but the bankruptcy filing has delayed the process. The camp’s legal team has not responded to requests for comment.
The July 4 floods remain the deadliest inland flood in the United States since 1976, with an estimated $22 billion in losses. The disaster exposed weaknesses in the region’s flood‑warning systems and highlighted the need for improved emergency preparedness.
As the anniversary approaches, families continue to push for reforms that will prevent similar tragedies. Their efforts have already spurred new legislation in Texas and other states, and they remain focused on ensuring that the loss of 27 children does not end in silence. The ongoing investigations, legal actions and policy changes underscore the importance of robust emergency planning for camps and other facilities located in flood‑prone areas. The outcomes of the lawsuits and the effectiveness of the new laws will shape how Texas and other states manage flood risks in the future.
A year later, families who lost loved ones at Camp Mystic have turned grief into advocacy. Matthew and Wendie Childress, parents of 18‑year‑old Chloe, a counselor who perished that night, founded the group “Heaven’s 27” to honor the 27 children who died. At a memorial held on July 12 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Matthew Childress addressed a packed congregation, describing his daughter as a hero who guided campers to safety as the waters rose.
The Childresses and other survivors met with Texas leaders—including Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows—in sessions that each lasted an hour and a half. The families asked the officials to make camp safety a priority in the next special session of the legislature.
In September 2025, Abbott signed a package of laws aimed at tightening camp safety. The legislation earmarked nearly $300 million for relief and flood‑preparedness improvements and imposed new requirements: state‑approved emergency plans for all youth camps, mandatory training for campers, and specific equipment—such as ladders—for cabins in floodplains. Crucially, camps must evacuate if the National Weather Service issues a flood warning.
Camp Mystic announced plans to reopen part of its grounds but later decided not to operate this year and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing has stalled pending lawsuits. Families have sued for more than $1 million in damages, alleging that camp leaders failed to evacuate campers and counselors despite worsening conditions.
In April, a Texas judge ordered three days of open testimony. Camp owners, the Eastlands, admitted to delayed action, the absence of a written evacuation plan, and the movement of canoes before evacuating girls. The testimony confirmed that camp leaders began evacuating 45 minutes after the flood began.
The Texas Senate and House released investigation reports in June that echoed these findings, noting the lack of a written evacuation plan and the delayed response by staff.
The families’ work has crossed state lines. In April, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, mirroring Texas’ requirements. Similar bills have been introduced in Maryland, Missouri and Oklahoma.
According to the source, Matthew Childress describes the advocacy as a “night job” that gives him purpose. He has testified before state committees and written an op‑ed for the Houston Chronicle, arguing that without their work the events of that night could have faded from public scrutiny.
Legal proceedings remain in motion. Jury trials for the lawsuits were scheduled for next year, but the bankruptcy filing has delayed the process. The camp’s legal team has not responded to requests for comment.
The July 4 floods remain the deadliest inland flood in the United States since 1976, with an estimated $22 billion in losses. The disaster exposed weaknesses in the region’s flood‑warning systems and highlighted the need for improved emergency preparedness.
As the anniversary approaches, families continue to push for reforms that will prevent similar tragedies. Their efforts have already spurred new legislation in Texas and other states, and they remain focused on ensuring that the loss of 27 children does not end in silence. The ongoing investigations, legal actions and policy changes underscore the importance of robust emergency planning for camps and other facilities located in flood‑prone areas. The outcomes of the lawsuits and the effectiveness of the new laws will shape how Texas and other states manage flood risks in the future.
