Camp Mystic installs new flash‑flood warning system
In Kerrville, Texas, Camp Mystic is installing about 100 perimeter flood‑alarm towers designed by River Sentry after July’s deadly Hill Country floods, which killed 27 campers and counselors at the camp. The autonomous system—funded by a private foundation at roughly $7,500 per tower—adds to siren requirements under Texas laws signed in September that mandate camp alert systems, staff training, inspections and siting away from floodplains.
📌 Key Facts
- Towers use water‑level sensors, ambulance‑grade lights/sirens, and are designed to work without grid power or cell service
- Sirens target 75 dB inside cabins; towers set five feet below protected structures using a 1‑foot‑per‑minute rise metric to give ~5 minutes to evacuate
- Texas passed two camp‑safety laws in September; families filed a wrongful‑death suit last month alleging gross negligence
📊 Relevant Data
The Texas Hill Country is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding due to its hilly terrain, rocky soil that doesn't absorb water well, and rivers that channel rapid runoff.
Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed more than 135 people, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding — The Conversation
Nationwide, flooding caused an average of 145 deaths annually over the past decade (2015-2024).
Decades of Data Show Texas Leads Nation in Flood Deaths — ProgramBusiness
Flooding-related deaths in the US reached a record high in 2015 with 176 reported, over a fourth of which occurred in Texas, and deaths have been increasing due to heavier rainfall.
Flood deaths are rising in the U.S., fueled by heavier rainfall — The Washington Post
The Blanco River flood of 2015 in Texas resulted in 13 deaths.
Kerr County tragedy already one of the deadliest floods in Texas history — KSAT