How the deadly Camp Mystic flash flood is transforming summer camp safety protocols across America
Camp directors across the country have put their safety plans under the microscope after the deadly July flash floods in Kerrville Texas killed campers and left over missing The tragic flash flooding in the Texas Hill Country at Camp Mystic an all-girls Christian camp in Kerrville Texas is causing summer camps across the U S to reevaluate their emergency preparedness plans especially for extreme weather threats The camp was situated near the Guadalupe River At least people are validated dead across Texas as search and rescue efforts continue Roger Dunn Camp Director at the Coldstream Christian Camp in Adams Tennessee declared the Texas flooding taught him that conditions can change in a matter of minutes Flooding for us isn't necessarily the vulnerability but tornadoes straight-line winds that type of thing absolutely that is a threat for us Dunn noted The nearest warning sirens are too far away to help because camp staff can t hear them Dunn is training counselors to monitor the weather more accurately and to use newly added walkie talkies in their cabins to stay in touch in matter of an urgency in the overnight hours TEXAS FLOOD SURVIVORS LOOK FOR GID IN FACE OF TRAGEDY We're using our weather apps We're constantly in contact with local leaders if there's anything severe that is happening Dunn explained I know the City of Adams is working on getting an alert system expanded in town I believe once they get the rest of it put in then we should be able to hear it Agents are studying Camp Mystic functionaries to see whether they received and responded to flash flood warnings before the tragedy The occurrence has caused questions over how camps assess and act on fast-moving weather threats Dunn says he reviews his camp s safety plans annually which is something the American Camp Association recommends Part of the hazard assessment takes into consideration any location-specific concerns and any location-specific weather events that might occur Henry DeHart ACA Interim President and CEO announced NEW QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT WHETHER CAMP MYSTIC DIRECTOR SAW FLOOD WARNING ALERTThe ACA has accredited more than camps across the country The organization expects more camps to go through their accreditation process in the Fall in light of the Texas floods If parents have concerns about a camp s safety protocols DeHart encourages them to ask camp directors directly We've created a pool for camps to help them think through the best way to communicate with parents knowing that parents were going to have these questions DeHart stated As a camp director I encourage them to ask questions Dunn noted Ask questions about safety what you have in place Ask questions about any type of exigency procedures I want their minds and their hearts to be at ease CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe ACA stated camps should act this instant and that they should use the offseason when children are in school to make more adjustments to the safety plans
