Texas Lawmakers Act After Camp Mystic Tragedy, Allocating $300M for Flood Safety
A tragic incident at Camp Mystic on the Guadalupe River claimed 27 young lives, with nearly 40 children losing their lives across the region due to severe flooding on July 4. In response, the Texas Legislature has taken action, passing a flood package and forming a joint committee to investigate the disaster and improve safety measures.
The Texas Legislature allocated nearly $300 million for flood preparedness this summer. This package includes $200 million to match federal disaster aid, $50 million for local flood-warning equipment, and $28 million for weather forecasting upgrades. Additionally, lawmakers approved new youth camp oversight, introducing safety teams, stricter camper-to-counselor ratios, and state inspections.
A joint committee, formed under Senate Resolution 2 and House Resolution 177, consists of five state representatives and five state senators. Their mission is to identify ways to strengthen the state's preparedness and response to flooding and other natural disasters. The committee will closely examine the events at Camp Mystic and other youth summer camps to prevent future tragedies.
Despite plans to reopen Camp Mystic next year, the identity of the responsible organization remains unclear. The joint committee's investigation aims to ensure that lessons are learned from this devastating event, leading to improved safety measures and better preparedness for future natural disasters in the United States.
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