Lawmakers could require Texas youth camps to create new flood disaster plans

AUSTIN, Texas — A new bill would require camp grounds in a flood plain or water way to create a new “Flood Disaster Plan” to be reviewed by the state. 

HB 19 is just one of several bills aimed at creating stricter safety requirements at youth camps after children and counselors died in the July Fourth floods in Kerr County. 

Texas Representative Drew Darby introduced the bill at a Disaster Preparedness & Flooding Committee meeting yesterday afternoon. Darby said he believed some camps were simply not prepared to deal flooding ahead of July Fourth. 

“After the Kerrville hearing it became apparent to me, and to you, that some of our camps were not just unprepared for this catastrophic event, they were unprepared for any flooding event,” Darby said. “Being ill equipped to handle a flood as a private citizen is one thing. But as a camp ground in charge of the lives of children, many of whom know nothing about the river or the dangers, is malpractice.” 

Currently, Texas camps are required to create emergency plans that are ready for “disaster, serious accident, epidemic, or fatality” according to state law. An inspector from the Texas Department of Public safety visits youth camps once a year and makes sure those plans are posted in every building and that the staff has been briefed on the plans.

The inspector does not, however, evaluate if the plans are effective, keep a copy of those plans, or send the plans to the county. Additionally, camp grounds are not required to post those plans online. 

HB 19 would change all that. 

The bill would require camp ground operators to develop, adopt, and update new flood disaster plans. The camp would then submit the plans to the Texas Division of Emergency Management for review. Local county officials would also receive the plan. 

If TDEM decided the plans didn’t meet safety standards, or won’t work, the camp would have 90 days to resubmit the plan. Camp operators that ignored the requirements could end up getting fined $1,000 a day.

Darby said the bill would also require the camp owner to post the flood disaster plan online, although the current version of the bill isn’t worded to require that in all situations. 

The Disaster Preparedness & Flooding Committee did not vote on the bill yesterday and instead left it pending to get more testimony and feedback for a future committee substitute version of the bill.