TAKEAWAYS: State lawmakers’ final report into deadly Camp Mystic floods

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas lawmakers released a 115-page investigative report Thursday on the mishaps at Camp Mystic on July 4 last year that led to the deaths of 27 people.

The report was released just two weeks before the one-year mark of the deadly tragedy.

The entire report can be read at the bottom of this article, but here are some key takeaways.

Investigators concluded that Camp Mystic’s failures contributed to the deaths, including:

• No state-compliant written emergency plans or assigned evacuation roles
• Inadequate monitoring/response despite storm alerts
• Failure to evacuate to higher ground despite hours of warning
• Confiscating counselors’ phones without backup radios
• Understaffing/insufficiently experienced counselors
• Chaotic post-storm incident management and reunification that traumatized parents with conflicting information

Several of the concerns have been addressed through legislation and other changes, but more needs to be done to improve safety and emergency coordination overall, lawmakers said.

Lawmakers said that Thursday’s investigative report was specific to the Camp Mystic flood event, and the over 100 people killed in Kerr County have not been forgotten or overlooked.

More Hill Country floods coverage on KSAT:

• State investigators issue final Camp Mystic report detailing cascading failures during July 4 flood
• Nonprofits team up to restore Guadalupe River after deadly Fourth of July floods
• Volunteer dive teams prepare Guadalupe River for summer visitors