Texas Officials Face Lawsuits Over Deadly Camp Mystic Flood

A lawsuit is filed against members of the Texas Department of State Health Services following the July 4, 2025, Hill Country flood.

Camp Mystic Lawsuit

A lawsuit has been filed by the parents of nine Camp Mystic counselors and campers who were killed in last year's July 4th Hill Country flood. According to KCEN, six members of the DSHS are the focus of the lawsuit.

The July 4th Tragedy

It was on July 4th of last year that 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas were washed away by flood waters. The Guadalupe River turned into a raging wall of water following continuous heavy rain upriver. The campers were instructed to stay in their two cabins that were located closest to the river.

The Lawsuit

The lawsuit argues the Texas Department of State Health Services failed to uphold the law that mandates licensed youth camps must have an emergency plan that specifically includes a plan for evacuation. According to KCEN, the lawsuit says that DSHS reviewed Camp Mystic’s emergency plan but did not enforce the aspect of having an evacuation plan.

Camp Mystic’s Plan

The protocol used by Camp Mystic called for campers to shelter in place during an emergency. According to KCEN, Camp Mystic victims' families say that policy led to the girls and counselors being trapped in the cabin instead of heading to higher ground.

The Defendants

According to KCEN, the defendants in the lawsuit include DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford and five other agency officials involved in camp oversight and inspection.

An Additional Lawsuit

Prior to this legal action, a second lawsuit was filed against Camp Mystic by the victim’s families. This lawsuit argues that the camp is guilty of "negligence and reckless disregard." The camp's license remains in effect. The camp plans to reopen another location this summer.