Families of Camp Mystic Victims Sue Over Deadly Texas Flood

Lawsuits Allege Negligence in Tragic Flooding
The families of multiple campers and counselors who died in July’s devastating flood at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, have filed lawsuits against the camp and its leadership, alleging gross negligence and reckless disregard for safety. The lawsuits, filed Monday, claim that the tragedy—which killed 28 people, including 25 campers, two counselors, and the camp’s director—was a “self-created disaster” caused by unsafe decisions and a failure to evacuate as floodwaters rose overnight along the Guadalupe River.

A Tragedy That Could Have Been Prevented
One lawsuit includes the families of five young campers—Anna Margaret Bellows, 8; Lila Bonner, 9; Molly DeWitt, 9; Lainey Landry, 9; and Blakely McCrory, 8—and two teenage counselors, Chloe Childress, 18, and Katherine Ferruzzo, 19. The petition accuses the camp of prioritizing profits over safety and ignoring flood warnings in a known flood zone. “Camp Mystic failed at its primary job to keep its campers and counselors safe,” said attorney Paul Yetter, representing several families. The suits seek at least $1 million in damages each.

Camp Mystic Responds Amid Ongoing Grief
In response, Camp Mystic officials said they “continue to pray for the grieving families” and maintain that the flood was an unprecedented natural event, not preventable by existing safety measures. Legal counsel Jeff Ray stated the camp “will prove that the surge far exceeded any previous flood by several magnitudes.” The tragedy prompted Texas lawmakers to strengthen safety regulations for summer camps and fund early-warning siren systems in flood-prone areas.