KERRVILLE, Texas – Survivors of last summer’s catastrophic Kerrville floods are coming together for a community roundtable with local lawmakers.
The event, held at 11 a.m. at the Kerrville Community Center, brings together flood survivors and representatives from the weather’s early warning systems to discuss the devastating Guadalupe River floods from last July. Lawmakers, including state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, are attending to listen to firsthand accounts and talk about the next steps for the community.
The July Fourth floods claimed the lives of 25 campers and two counselors at Camp Mystic and left a lasting impact on Kerrville and nearby communities. Among those lost is Cile Steward, a girl who remains missing since being swept away by the floodwaters.
RELATED: Camp Mystic proposes property sale, dissolution amid bankruptcy case
Dondi Voigt Persyn, a flood survivor and founder of “Found on the Guadalupe River,” emphasized the importance of the meeting.
“I’m looking forward to sitting down with our local lawmakers to share what we’ve witnessed firsthand and work toward real solutions,” Persyn said.
Camp Mystic, the site of the tragedy, faces ongoing legal and financial challenges. It has proposed selling its property and dissolving after filing for bankruptcy more than three months ago. The plan would allow families with wrongful death claims tied to the July 4, 2025 floods to resume or file lawsuits, with insurance covering claims first and any remaining funds shared among other creditors. The bankruptcy court must still approve the proposal.
RELATED: Families of flood victims respond to Camp Mystic investigation
The tragedy has also resulted in criminal and civil investigations. The Texas Rangers are investigating whether Camp Mystic leadership committed crimes including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, injury to a child, abandoning or endangering a child and deadly conduct. A Kerr County state district judge granted 14 search warrants for access to electronic data from the Eastland family, who operated the camp and staff members.
Attorneys involved in the case highlighted the legal complexity and the lengthy process ahead. Jonathan Chavez, an attorney not associated with the case, said, “It’s hard to nail down who would be responsible and there is also a lot of finger-pointing.” Joseph Hoelscher, an attorney with HGC Law, explained the potential impact of criminal convictions on civil lawsuits, stating, “If the same entity or person is sued in civil court for wrongful death instead of murder, the attorneys that are suing them no longer have to prove that they have liability,” Hoelscher said.
A state-led review of the flood found the camp lacked mandatory written emergency plans and effective evacuation measures. Investigators pointed to failures in communication between state and local responders and insufficient instructions to counselors on how to carry out evacuations.
As survivors, lawmakers and safety experts meet to address what comes next for Kerrville, the community continues to seek answers and solutions in the aftermath of a disaster that took so many lives.