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Families of six children and two counselors killed at Camp Mystic flood The camp’s owners and other defendants are being sued for alleged negligence in the tragic case.
but disaster texas 27 children and counselors died at the summer camp in July. Slow moving thunderstorm moves through area widespread floodingUltimately more than 100 people died.
The lawsuits argued in part that camp leadership Texas failed to implement proper evacuation plans despite being located in an area known as “Flash Flood Alley”. nbc news report,
“Camp Mystic has long operated in a high-risk flood zone. Despite this known danger, the suit claims the camp failed to adopt legally required evacuation plans, repeatedly ignored weather warnings and implemented unsafe policies,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit was filed by the families of the five children and two counselors who lost their lives: Anna Margaret Bellows, 8; Lila Bonner, 9; Molly DeWitt, 9; Chloe Childress, 18; Katherine Ferruzzo, 19; Lanny Landry, 9; and Blakely McCrory, 8.
The filing also accuses camp staff of prioritizing saving the equipment over the children.
“As the river rose, the camp decided to instruct its groundskeepers, not its campers and counselors, to evacuate camp equipment more than an hour later,” the lawsuit states.
The filing acknowledged that camp staff tried to save the campers, but it was “too late.”
“Finally, when it was too late, the camp made a desperate ‘rescue’ attempt from its self-made disaster, resulting in the deaths of 25 campers, two counselors, and the camp director,” the lawsuit states.
Camp Mystic attorney Jeff Ray told Monday on NBC Dallas-Fort Worth The lawsuit contained “misinformation” about actions taken by the camp’s leadership.
Ray also said that the level of flooding, despite the camp being located in a flood-prone area, was beyond what anyone present at the camp could have predicted.
“We intend to demonstrate and prove that this sudden surge of flood waters far exceeds any previous flooding in the area, it was unexpected and there were no adequate warning systems in place in the area,” Ray said.
Another family – the family of 8-year-old Eloise “Lulu” Peck, who died in a flood at the camp – has also sued the camp and other defendants.
That lawsuit claims the camp’s owners knew the camp was “vulnerable to potential flood waters from the Guadalupe River and never told unsuspecting parents a word about it.”
It further claims that the camp has been run by the same family for generations, and that the owners have been playing “Russian roulette with the lives of little girls” since discovering the potential flood threat.
That lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages of more than $1 million for wrongful death, metal pain and suffering, and other issues.
Tragedy at the camp struck July 4, when a slow-moving storm raised water in the nearby Guadalupe River more than 20 feet over the course of a few hours, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
Once the water passed the banks of the Guadalupe, it swept into Kerr County, killing at least 117 people.
Camp Mystic has announced Partial reopening planned A memorial will be built in honor of the victims next year.
Independent Camp Mystic has requested comment.