Full Breakdown
Camp Mystic’s License Hangs in Balance as Texas Reviews Flood-Era Emergency Plan
4/25/2026, 11:11:47 AM
License Review and Immediate Issue
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) sent Camp Mystic an 11-page deficiency letter on April 23, 2026, citing 22 gaps in the emergency-operations plan for the Cypress Lake site. The camp has 45 days to fix the issues before a license renewal decision; without approval it cannot open its late-May session.
Background and New Safety Law
Flash floods on July 4, 2025, swept the Guadalupe River through Camp Mystic’s Guadalupe campus, killing 27 children, counselors and the camp’s director. The disaster spurred the Texas Youth Camp Safety and Health Act, tightening emergency-plan standards. In 2026, all 174 camp applicants received deficiency notices under the new law.
Key Figures, Stakes and Data
Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian girls’ camp, plans to reopen a Cypress Lake area away from the flood site. DSHS spokesperson Lara Anton oversees the review. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urges a license denial. Families have filed lawsuits and seek an injunction. The camp faces 22 deficiencies, a 45-day correction window, and over 800 registered campers; 174 camps statewide received similar notices.
Official Statements & Responses
DSHS’s Lara Anton said the notice is “a regular part of the licensing review process” and most camps received similar letters after the law’s adoption; Camp Mystic’s spokesperson emphasized that safety and well-being of campers remain the top priority and that the camp is carefully reviewing DSHS findings. Dan Patrick urged DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford to deny the license pending investigations. Families allege negligence and seek to preserve flood-site evidence.
Criticism & Opposition
Victims’ families say reopening is premature, citing lawsuits that claim the camp lacked an evacuation plan before the 2025 flood. Dan Patrick and several legislators have called for the license to be withheld. A state district judge barred any alteration of structures at the flood-damaged site to protect evidence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the death toll—some list 27 total deaths, others break it down as 25 campers, 2 counselors and the director. The emergency-plan remains confidential, preventing verification of the gaps. It is unclear whether the revised plan will meet DSHS criteria before summer.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Most youth camps have received a notice of deficiency letter for their emergency plan,” — Lara Anton, DSHS spokesperson
- “Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our campers.” — Camp Mystic spokesperson
- “Dan Patrick previously wrote to DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford urging the agency to not renew the camp’s license amid what he called a “criminal investigation.” — Dan Patrick, Texas Lieutenant Governor
- “They wrote "the plan does not clearly assign responsibility for initiating 911 contact.” — Texas Department of State Health Services
What’s Next
Camp Mystic must submit a revised emergency plan by early July. State legislators will hold hearings on the 2025 flood and the camp’s compliance. DSHS will review the updated plan and decide on the license before the scheduled May reopening, while investigations continue.
