Texas flooding: Lt. Governor urges DSHS not to grant license to Camp Mystic

Camp Mystic families sue Texas DSHS

The families of nine killed at Camp Mystic during the July 4th floods have filed suit against the Texas Department of State Health Services, saying that the department should not have licensed the camp without a written evacuation plan per state law.

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is urging the Texas Department of State Health Services not to license Camp Mystic for the 2026 summer season.

This comes after a federal lawsuit was filed Monday against six DSHS officials alleging that they licensed the nearly century-old camp despite it not having a written and posted evacuation plan per state law, leading to the deaths of 27 campers and counselors.

RELATED COVERAGE: Texas flooding: State officials face lawsuit from families over Camp Mystic licensing

Lt. Gov letter

What they're saying:

The letter, addressed to DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford, one of the lawsuit's co-defendants, says that DSHS should not grant Camp Mystic a license until "these deaths are investigated and any necessary corrective actions are taken to ensure this never happens again."

The letter also states that both the Texas House and Senate have established general investigating committees to look into the events of the deadly July 4th floods. Those committees are expected to meet later this spring. 

His letter did not address the pending lawsuit against DSHS officials.

Dig deeper:

State Rep. Wes Virdell, whose district includes Kerr County and Camp Mystic, pushed back against Patrick on X, saying that the camp is not reopening the same flood-damaged cabins. 

Virdell says the camp is the "first camp to install the new flood warning systems way ahead of help from the government."

"I offered amendments that would have fixed the camp safety bill and instead we are facing a lot of camp closures that have zero flood risk. I am strongly of the belief that this bill was directly targeted at shutting Camp Mystic down and the charge was led by some very strong political influencers behind the scenes. Now that Camp Mystic has managed to make it through the excessive requirements of the bill, it looks like they are trying to take the camp down through another route," Virdell posted.

The backstory:

Twenty-five campers and two counselors died in the devastating July 4th floods that swept through Central Texas. One camper, Cecilia "Cile" Steward of Austin, has yet to be found more than seven months later.

Camp Mystic has previously announced plans to reopen this upcoming summer, drawing criticism and even a lawsuit from Cile's parents earlier this month seeking to stop the reopening.

RELATED COVERAGE

• Dallas family files the 2nd lawsuit against Camp Mystic after Central Texas flood killed 27
• 'Heaven's 27' parents file lawsuit against Camp Mystic, claiming 'gross negligence'
• 6 more families sue Camp Mystic for allegedly ignoring flood warnings
• Texas flooding: Missing Camp Mystic child's parents file suit to stop reopening

Camp Mystic is also at the center of multiple lawsuits filed on behalf of the parents of "Heaven's 27", all claiming gross negligence and reckless disregard for safety, as well as alleging that the camp and its owners ignored weather warnings and ordered campers to stay inside cabins as floodwaters rose.