Families of Camp Mystic Victims to Join Texas Governor for Signing of Camp Safety Bills

Families of children and counselors who died when fast-rising floodwaters swept through Camp Mystic in the Texas Hill Country said they will join Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday as he signs a package of camp safety bills passed during a special legislative session.

The measure package won final approval this week as relatives watched from the galleries of the Texas House and Senate. The legislation is intended to reduce the risk of similar tragedies after at least 27 campers and counselors were swept to their deaths when the Guadalupe River surged through the girls’ summer camp during the Fourth of July flooding that killed at least 136 people across the state.

Among the grieving relatives, Blake Bonner said he spent the weeks after his 9-year-old daughter Lila’s death wrestling with whether the loss was purely an act of nature or could have been prevented. "It just became clear to me that this incident was 100% preventable," Bonner said. "For a lot of reasons, I was going to do everything in my power, and I was hoping the other parents would as well, to make sure that our girls' legacy wasn't in vain."

Lawmakers and families embraced in the chamber after lawmakers gave final passage to the bills. Several parents and family members of the Camp Mystic victims were present during votes taken in the special session convened by Abbott, who has said he supports measures to strengthen safety standards for camps and emergency preparedness.

The flooding that overwhelmed Camp Mystic came as intense rainfall produced rapid rises in river levels across parts of Texas on the Fourth of July. Officials said the Guadalupe River rose quickly, sweeping away tents, cabins and people at the camp. The wider storm system produced deadly flooding that destroyed homes and vehicles and left scores of communities coping with loss and damage.

Climate scientists say that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, increasing the risk of heavy precipitation and flash flooding in some regions. While officials and families have focused on immediate policy responses to camp operations and emergency warnings, researchers continue to study how changing climate patterns may affect the frequency and intensity of such events.

The upcoming bill-signing ceremony in Austin will be the latest step in a process that began with rescue and recovery operations and moved through public hearings and legislative debate. Families and advocates said they hope the new laws will improve early warning systems and safety protocols so that other communities do not suffer similar losses.

Gov. Abbott has scheduled the bill-signing event for Friday; families who lost loved ones at Camp Mystic are expected to be present as he signs the legislation into law.