Public Safety and Disaster Preparedness

The family of 8‑year‑old Cile Steward has filed for a temporary injunction in Travis County to bar Camp Mystic from reopening or undertaking construction while their lawsuit proceeds, arguing that reopening or erecting a memorial could destroy or alter physical evidence needed to litigate and understand the July 2025 floods; Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has urged regulators not to renew the camp’s license, while camp lawyers say the floods were unprecedented and beyond reasonable preparation. The Hill Country floods killed 135 people, including 27 girls and counselors at Camp Mystic, and President Trump used the 2026 State of the Union to present Coast Guard rescue swimmer Petty Officer Scott Ruskan—credited with directly saving 165 people and serving as the on‑scene triage coordinator—with the Legion of Merit and to reunite him with 11‑year‑old survivor Milly Cate McClymond.