Camp Mystic’s Emergency Plan: A Single Page for Preventable Deaths?

The tragic events at Camp Mystic on July 4th, 2025, where 27 lives were lost, including many children, have cast a harsh light on summer camp safety and emergency preparedness. The revelation that Camp Mystic’s emergency plan was a single page that didn’t address camper evacuation has sparked outrage and raised critical questions about the adequacy of safety regulations and the responsibility of summer camps to protect the children in their care.

The Illusion of Preparedness: A One-Page Plan

Following the devastating flood, it was revealed that Camp Mystic’s emergency plan consisted of a single page. According to KHOU 11 Investigates, the plan stated, “In case of flood, all campers on Senior Hill must stay in their cabins. Those on the flats must also stay in their cabins unless told otherwise by the office,” further asserting that “all cabins are constructed on high, safe locations”. This tragically misguided plan proved fatal, as the “high, safe locations” were not immune to the rapidly rising floodwaters.

This raises a critical question: Can a single-page document truly encompass the complexities of emergency preparedness, especially in a location prone to flooding?

The Duty of Care: What Camps Owe to Campers

Summer camps, like schools and childcare providers, owe a “duty of care” to the children entrusted to them. This legal obligation requires camp operators and staff to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of all campers. This includes:

Adequate Supervision: Maintaining appropriate staff-to-camper ratios and ensuring supervisors are properly trained.
Safe Facilities: Regularly inspecting and maintaining camp facilities to prevent accidents.
Appropriate Safety Protocols: Implementing safety protocols for all activities, especially those involving physical risk.
Emergency Preparedness: Developing and implementing comprehensive emergency plans that address foreseeable disasters.

When a camp fails to meet this duty of care, it may be held liable for resulting injuries or deaths. This liability can extend to various scenarios, including negligent supervision, unsafe facilities, inadequate safety protocols, and a lack of emergency preparedness.

Negligence and Liability: Holding Camps Accountable

In the aftermath of the Camp Mystic tragedy, families are exploring legal options, including wrongful death, negligence, and premises liability lawsuits. These claims aim to hold the camp accountable for its alleged failures in evacuation procedures, ignored flood risks, and a history of similar incidents.

Common reasons children get injured at summer camp:

Lack of Supervision: Failing to adequately supervise campers, especially during activities like swimming or hiking.
Unsafe Conditions: Maintaining unsafe facilities, such as slippery floors, broken equipment, or exposed hazards.
Inadequate Training: Failing to properly train staff in safety procedures, first aid, and emergency response.
Negligent Hiring: Hiring staff members without conducting thorough background checks, potentially putting children at risk.
Failure to Use Protective Equipment: Not ensuring campers use appropriate safety gear, such as helmets or life jackets.
Ignoring Weather Warnings: Failing to heed weather alerts and take necessary precautions, such as evacuating to higher ground during a flood.

The Role of Liability Waivers

Many summer camps require parents to sign liability waivers as part of the registration process. These waivers typically state that parents understand and accept the inherent risks associated with camp activities and agree not to hold the camp liable for certain types of injuries.

However, it’s important to note that these waivers do not provide blanket immunity for the camp. Waivers may not be enforceable in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. For example, a waiver may not protect a camp from liability if a child is injured due to defective equipment or a lack of supervision.

What Should an Emergency Plan Include?

An effective emergency plan should include:

Key Contacts: Fire, police, EMS, hospital, poison control, public health, utility companies, insurance agent, emotional support services, local emergency manager, ERT members (home/cell), critical suppliers, etc.
Roles and Responsibilities: Of ERT members and remaining staff before, during, and after an incident.
Evacuation Plan: How to exit a building or area safely during an emergency.
Shelter-in-Place Plan: Instructions on staying safe inside the building if evacuation is not advisable.
Lockdown Procedures: Used in response to threatening events like intruders or active shooters.
Communications Plan: How information will be disseminated to all relevant parties during an emergency.
Crisis Management Plan: Focuses on managing the situation and resources to mitigate the effects of the emergency.
Designated staging areas: For first responders, media (and curious neighbors), concerned parents, etc.
Diagrams and maps: Of the camp grounds and each building.
Locations: Of key utility shut-off valves and switches.
How to access keys: To locks, doors, and gates especially after regular business hours.

Preventing Future Tragedies: A Call for Reform

The Camp Mystic tragedy underscores the urgent need for comprehensive safety reforms in the summer camp industry. These reforms should include:

Mandatory Emergency Plans: Requiring all summer camps to develop and implement detailed emergency plans that address foreseeable disasters, including flooding, wildfires, and severe weather.
Regular Inspections: Conducting regular inspections of summer camps to ensure compliance with safety regulations and emergency preparedness standards.
Real-Time Weather Alerts: Implementing real-time weather alert systems to provide timely warnings of impending severe weather.
Mandatory Evacuations: Establishing mandatory evacuation protocols for camps located in flood-prone areas or other high-risk zones.
Increased Transparency: Making emergency plans and inspection reports publicly available to parents and guardians.

Advice

Parents should carefully research summer camps before enrolling their children, paying close attention to their safety records, emergency preparedness plans, and staff training procedures. It is also advisable to review liability waivers carefully and understand the extent of the camp’s liability.

Conclusion

The Camp Mystic tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of summer camp safety and emergency preparedness. A single-page emergency plan is simply not enough to protect children from preventable deaths. By implementing comprehensive safety reforms, holding negligent camps accountable, and empowering parents to make informed decisions, we can create a safer summer camp environment for all children.