"Distraught Parents of Children Missing from Camp Mystic Flood Addresses Legislative Meeting"
Tragedy at Camp Mystic: Parents Testify Over Lost Children in Texas Flood
In a poignant display of grief and determination, parents of the 27 children who lost their lives in a flash flood at Camp Mystic in Texas testified before the Texas Senate Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Select Committee.
Ryan DeWitt, a father who lost his younger daughter, 9-year-old Molly, shared his final goodbye with his daughter before she went to the camp. "She was full of excitement, ready for the adventure, the memories, the friendships, and the lessons that camp promised," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. His testimony moved members of the committee to tears.
Brandt Dillon, whose 8-year-old daughter Lucy was among the victims, pleaded with the committee not to allow Senate Bill 1 to be "watered down" before it is passed. He described the emotionless call he received, informing him that his daughter was simply unaccounted for. Dillon spoke of Lucy as his "best friend, my greatest contribution to society."
Cici Williams Steward, another parent, testified that her 8-year-old daughter, Cile Steward, is the only Camp Mystic camper still missing. Steward accused the camp of neglecting common-sense safety measures, leading to her daughter's disappearance. She also stated that her daughter went to Camp Mystic for the first time, full of excitement, and that camp meant adventure, memories, friendships, and lessons for a lifetime.
Carrie Hanna described her 8-year-old daughter, Hadley, as a "hilarious, kind, caring, silly, loving little girl who always wanted to help others." Hanna accused the camp of having no plan, no backup system, and no sirens, leading to her daughter's death.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly testified that in the aftermath of the flooding, the county commissioned an independent hydrology study that confirmed the July weather event was a 1,000-year flood. He also conceded that he was sick and asleep as the water rose to historic levels on the Guadalupe River.
The proposed bill, to be renamed the "Heaven 27 Camp Safety Act," includes requirements for campgrounds to have emergency plans, prevent cabin construction in flood plains, equip cabins with safety roof-top ladders and radios, and have at least two separate internet connections.
However, it was noted that there is no information in the search results indicating that Cici Williams Steward is the spokesperson for the Campaign for Camp Safety.
Michael McCown, whose 7-year-old daughter, Linnie McCown, died in the flooding, stated that he lied to his daughter about the safety of camp. He urged the committee to pass Senate Bill 1 to boost safety at campgrounds along the Guadalupe River. Steward and other parents echoed this call, asking the committee to pass the bill to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
The testimony of these parents serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety measures in campgrounds and the need for legislation to ensure the safety of children. The committee is expected to vote on Senate Bill 1 in the coming weeks.
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