FEMA approved Camp Mystic to exempt structures from flood zone designation? Here's what we know
Back in 2013, FEMA approved an appeal from Camp Mystic, a Christian camp for girls, to exclude 15 of its buildings near the Guadalupe River from what is known as a Special Flood Hazard Area. That's the zone where a so-called '100-year flood' — one with a 1% chance of happening in any year — could hit, according to Washington Post report.
FEMA documents show that some of those buildings were just a few feet above the level a major flood might reach. At least one was actually below it. Still, the exemption meant the camp didn't have to carry flood insurance for those structures anymore. Other parts of the camp stayed in the flood zone and remained subject to various federal, state, and local building rules for those areas.
Also Read: New Texas flash flood warnings affect Guadalupe River, Camp Mystic rescue efforts. What did officials say
Camp Mystic made two more successful appeals to FEMA
As Camp Mystic expanded, it made two more successful appeals to FEMA in 2019 and 2020, removing another 15 buildings from the flood zone designations.
The Associated Press first reported on these appeals, which offer some insight into how both Camp Mystic and FEMA evaluated flood risks over the years. The revelations are now drawing new attention after the deadly July 4 floods that left at least 129 people dead in Central Texas. According to river gauge data from Hunt, Texas, the Guadalupe River rose nearly 30 feet in under four hours that morning.
At Camp Mystic, the river's waters rushed into cabins just after daybreak. Campers and counselors had to escape through waist-deep water, some of them barefoot.
Sarah Pralle, a political science professor at Syracuse University who studies FEMA's flood maps, said the camp's repeated efforts to challenge FEMA's designations raise serious concerns.
'Not just disappointing; it's very disturbing,' Pralle said. 'You would think that, in that situation, they would err on the side of extreme caution given who they are supposed to be taking care of.'
Camp Mystic spokesman Jeff Carr confirmed in an email that the camp had filed appeals and that FEMA approved them, adding, 'just as 90% of all such appeals are approved by FEMA.'
Pralle explained that it's becoming more common for property owners to challenge FEMA's maps to avoid the cost of flood insurance or the limitations that come with building in flood-prone areas. But she also pointed out that flood-related deaths have gone up across the US
'There's just a lot of places that are not taking risks seriously,' she said. 'We're trying to shrink the [FEMA] maps and take properties out of them, and it just seems like the wrong way to be going.'
Also Read: Camp Mystic: Haunting visuals reveal aftermath of deadly Texas flood that left 27 dead
'Flood maps are snapshots…'
The agency said, 'Flood maps are snapshots in time designed to show minimum standards for floodplain management and the highest risk areas for flood insurance.'
Meanwhile, other data pointed to a bigger risk at Camp Mystic than FEMA's maps showed. A model from First Street, a private climate risk modeling company, outlined a broader flood zone along the Guadalupe River, putting even more camp buildings at risk.
Jeremy Porter, who leads climate research at First Street, said their model also considers extreme rainfall, unlike FEMA's maps.
'That area actually has one of the highest flood indices across the whole country in terms of the likelihood of flooding,' Porter said.
On Sunday, the area was hit with flooding again, forcing authorities to pause the search for those still missing after the July 4 disaster. Porter said that instead of challenging FEMA's flood designations, Camp Mystic's leaders would have been better off focusing their time on preparing for a flood.
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Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Three losses in five months: After husband and brother, Texas mom loses daughter in floods; final letters capture 8-year-old's joy at Camp Mystic
Debris covers the area of Camp Mystic in Hunt (AP Photo) Texas mom Lindsey McLeod McCrory has endured more tragedy in five months than most people face in a lifetime. In March, she lost her husband, Blake, to cancer. In June, her only brother, Chanse McLeod, died from illness. Then, on July 4, her 8-year-old daughter, Blakely, was among the dozens killed from Camp Mystic when catastrophic floods swept through central Texas- turning what was meant to be a joyful summer camp experience into a scene of heartbreak. Blakely had just begun her stay at Camp Mystic, a storied Christian girls' camp nestled in the Hill Country. She was wearing a green-and-white beaded Camp Mystic necklace that her mother had given her before she left- a symbol of faith, family tradition, and joy. That necklace would later help identify her body. Mom's husband and brother died this year, then her daughter was killed in floods 'She had the best time at camp. She went out on a happy note,' McCrory said. 'She was always a leader, encouraging others.' In the days following the tragedy, Lindsey McCrory received a bundle of handwritten letters that Blakely had penned during her brief but joyful stay at Camp Mystic. The notes, written in colorful pens and embellished with stickers, brimmed with a child's excitement and wonder—offering a lasting glimpse into her final days. 'She described Camp Mystic as 'amazing' in all caps,' McCrory recalled. 'You could feel her joy in every sentence.' In one of her letters, Blakely wrote about being selected for the Tonkawa tribe—something she had hoped for long before arriving at camp. 'I finally got Tonk!!!' she exclaimed, underlining the word several times- 'I'm a Tonk now—I wanted it so bad!' She also listed the many activities she was eager to try: horseback riding, tennis, swimming, and especially crafts. Blakely mentioned building a Barbie house during art class, de scribing it in vivid detail—complete with painted walls and a hand-made miniature bed. 'It's pink and purple and has a real roof!' she wrote. 'She was so proud of that little house,' McCrory said. 'She was going to give it to her cousin when she got back.' The July 4 flooding came suddenly, with torrential rain and a deadly 30-foot river surge that destroyed cabins and swept away lives. Blakely's cabin was among the closest to the Guadalupe River. Twenty-seven Camp Mystic campers and counselors, including Blakely, perished. When McCrory, who was on a long-planned trip to Europe with her sister and nieces, first heard of flooding at Camp Mystic, she thought it might be similar to a 1987 event she remembered as a former camper herself—minor disruptions, but no danger. 'We were on a boat, and when we docked for lunch, we received some text messages,' she recalled. 'I didn't have any idea how bad it was.' Soon after, she lost phone service. Once reconnected, she heard the chilling voicemail: Blakely was missing. 'I just dropped the phone on the table, shaking,' McCrory said. 'I was frozen when I heard that voicemail.' She rushed home to Houston as family members searched local shelters and evacuation centers. On July 7, McCrory received confirmation- her daughter had been found. She was still wearing the Camp Mystic necklace. Despite the magnitude of her loss, McCrory radiated calm. She credits her faith, her family, and the Camp Mystic community. 'My faith is so strong. Actually, I was a camper at Camp Mystic, and I felt so close to my faith attending there,' she said, as quote by CNN. 'We had lovely devotionals on the waterfront… And just the sisterhood, the faith – it just really brought me closer.' Her friends have now adjusted the necklace so that she can wear it herself, keeping Blakely close to her heart. 'She was so excited [about camp], and it came at such a good time since she lost her daddy,' McCrory said. 'It was a way for her to just heal with that sisterhood and her faith and just all of the fun activities.' Even in her final moments, Blakely's spirit shone through. 'As the water started to rise, a counselor made a keen observation: Blakely was encouraging her cabinmates to not be afraid,' McCrory said. 'She was always a leader, encouraging others.'
Time of India
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- Time of India
3 people still missing from deadly July 4 floods in Texas county, down from nearly 100
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Time of India
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