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Texas Camp Files Bankruptcy After Deadly Flood
24 Jun
Summary
- Camp Mystic filed for bankruptcy after a fatal flood.
- Total debt exceeds $10 million, according to court records.
- Investigators found inadequate emergency training and planning.
Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Texas, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following a devastating flood last July that resulted in 28 fatalities. Court records indicate the camp's total debt now exceeds $10 million.
The bankruptcy filing was submitted recently in the southern district of Texas. This action follows the camp's earlier decision to cancel its reopening plans for the current summer, a move made amidst significant public criticism and legal actions from victims' families and state officials.
State investigators released findings detailing critical failures, including inadequate staff training for emergencies and a lack of advance emergency planning. The report highlighted that numerous adults present could have assisted in an orderly evacuation but lacked proper training and a plan.
Several lawsuits have been filed against the camp and its owners, the Eastland family, alleging gross negligence and that the tragedy was preventable. Families claim the camp prioritized profit over safety by housing campers in flood-prone cabins.
Attorneys for Camp Mystic have expressed empathy for the families but disagree with several accusations, asserting the floodwaters were unprecedented and unexpected. They intend to contest the claims in court.
