As a deeply rooted Suwannee County resident, it’s crucial to stay informed on the latest news and developments, especially when they impact our community’s safety. Recently, the tragic events at Camp Mystic, a renowned girls’ summer camp in Kerr County, have raised questions regarding federal oversight and flood regulation.
According to an in-depth review by The Associated Press, federal regulators perpetually approved appeals to eliminate Camp Mystic’s structures from their 100-year flood map. This action effectively lessened supervision as the camp continued to grow and operate within a perilous flood plain, leading up to the devastating flood that claimed the lives of children and counselors.
Understanding the FEMA Designation
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had placed Camp Mystic within a “Special Flood Hazard Area” on its National Flood Insurance map for Kerr County in 2011. This designation means that the area is likely to be inundated during a 100-year flood, and it requires the camp to carry flood insurance. Furthermore, this placed stricter regulations on any future construction projects.
However, despite the camp’s precarious location along the Guadalupe River, which is notoriously prone to flash floods, FEMA granted repeated appeals to remove the camp’s buildings from the hazard area. This decision has raised numerous eyebrows, including those of Sarah Pralle, an associate professor at Syracuse University who has studied FEMA’s flood map determinations extensively.
“It’s a mystery to me why they weren’t taking proactive steps to move structures away from the risk, let alone challenging what seems like a very reasonable map that shows these structures were in the 100-year flood zone,” Pralle stated.
FEMA Exemptions for Camp Mystic
Records show that, following an appeal in 2013, FEMA amended the county’s flood map to remove 15 of the camp’s buildings from the hazard area. These buildings were part of the 99-year-old Camp Mystic Guadalupe, which was devastated by the recent flood. Further appeals led to the removal of an additional 15 structures in 2019 and 2020. These buildings were located on the nearby Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, a sister site that opened in 2020 and suffered less damage in the flood.
Flood Risks at Camp Mystic
Despite the FEMA exemptions, the flood risk was glaringly apparent. A data analysis by First Street, a data science company specializing in modeling climate risk, showed that at least 12 structures at Camp Mystic Guadalupe were fully within FEMA’s 100-year flood plain, while others were partially in that zone. Furthermore, the head of climate implications at First Street, Jeremy Porter, pointed out that FEMA’s flood insurance map underestimates flood risks, failing to account for the effects of heavy precipitation on smaller waterways.
A Closer Look at the Appeal Process
Property owners challenging FEMA’s map designations typically hire engineers to conduct detailed studies to show where they believe the 100-year flood plain should actually be drawn. Chris Steubing, executive director of the Texas Floodplain Management Association, called this a “pretty arduous process.” However, this process can lead to more accurate maps while making it easier for future construction.
Pralle, who reviewed the amendments for AP, noted that some of the exempted properties were within 2 feet (0.6 meters) of FEMA’s flood plain by the camp’s revised calculations, which she said left almost no margin for error. She also shared that her research shows that FEMA approves about 90% of map amendment requests, a process that may favor the wealthy and well-connected.
Continued Expansion Despite Potential Risks
Despite the risks and FEMA’s cautions, county officials allowed the camp to not only continue operations but to dramatically expand. This expansion included new cabins and a dining hall, a chapel, an archery range, and more. At the time of the tragedy, the camp had 557 campers and more than 100 staffers across its two locations.
As we mourn this tragic event, it’s important to keep informed and involved in local and regional news. By doing so, we can work together to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
