Texas Camp Mystic to Reopen After Deadly Flood
Nearly six months after July 4 floods along the Guadalupe River killed 25 girls and two counselors at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, the 100‑year‑old all‑girls Christian camp plans to begin enrolling new campers in January 2026 and reopen partial operations in May, moving cabins to higher ground and adding new safety measures such as cabin radios and river‑monitoring devices. The decision has divided families and drawn criticism as state lawmakers prepare investigative hearings and local officials rush to install an upgraded flood‑warning system in the region known as 'Flash Flood Alley,' where at least 117 people died in the disaster and two victims, including an 8‑year‑old camper, remain missing.
📌 Key Facts
- Camp Mystic will start enrolling new campers in January 2026 with sessions set to resume in May, less than a year after floodwaters swept away two riverfront cabins and killed 27 people connected to the camp.
- The camp says returning campers will sleep on higher ground and pledges new safety steps including two‑way radios in every cabin and additional river flood‑warning monitors; the camp’s longtime owner, Dick Eastland, died in the flood.
- Texas legislators plan investigative hearings next year into the July disaster, while Kerr County officials—criticized for their response—remain in office and are working to implement a new countywide flood‑warning system before the camp reopens.
📊 Relevant Data
From 1959 to 2019, Texas accounted for 1,069 flood-related deaths, the highest in the United States, representing about 18% of the national total during that period.
Decades of Data Show Texas Leads Nation in Flood Deaths — ProgramBusiness
More than 50% of flood fatalities in Texas are caused by flash floods, with the state's geography, including limestone hills that funnel water into rivers, contributing to the high risk.
Analysis of Flood Fatalities in Texas — Natural Hazards Review
Climate change is projected to increase the frequency of urban floods in Texas by 30%-50% by 2036 relative to the 1990s, due to trends in extreme precipitation.
EXTREME WEATHER IN TEXAS, 1900-2036 — Texas 2036
Kerr County's population has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over, almost double the U.S. average, potentially increasing vulnerability to flood events.
The Guadalupe River has experienced major floods in years including 1936, 1952, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1987, 1991, 1997, and 1998, indicating a pattern of recurring deadly flooding in the region.
Flood Cover.qxd - Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority — Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority