Fathers of Camp Mystic Victims Advocate for Safety Reforms Post-floods

WHO:

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Matthew Childress and Ryan DeWitt, fathers of victims Chloe Childress and Molly DeWitt, respectively.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Families of the victims, referred to as "Heaven's 27."

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

WHAT:

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The floods killed 25 girls, two teenage counselors, and the longtime director of Camp Mystic.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The families of "Heaven's 27" launched the Safe Summers Foundation, aiming to get 27,000 parents to pledge to ask camps about safety measures.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The Texas legislation requires summer camps to strengthen communications for when there is no power or cell service and prohibits building cabins in flood zones.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - More than 130 people were killed in the floods, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Childress and DeWitt are advocating for improved summer camp safety and have helped drive legislative changes in Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The families have sued Camp Mystic for gross negligence, alleging that profit was prioritized over safety.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Texas legislation includes the Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act, which mandates summer camps to install warning systems and provide emergency training.

WHERE:

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Camp Mystic, located in Hunt, Texas.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Kerr County, Texas.

WHEN:

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The floods occurred on July 4, 2025.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed new campground safety laws in September 2025.

WHY:

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Childress expressed a desire for ongoing advocacy, stating, "This job of safety is never done. So my hope is that what we've started will continue not only with our group but with a larger group nationally over time."

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The fathers are motivated by the desire to prevent similar tragedies and to honor their daughters' memories.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The camp's evacuation response was criticized for lack of preparation and coordination before the storm.

HOW:

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The families have launched the Safe Summers Foundation to promote safety upgrades and new safety laws, aiming to get 27,000 parents to pledge to inquire about camp safety.

[10:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Childress and DeWitt have been speaking with legislators to advocate for camp safety reforms.

(UPDATED July 2, 2026 17:33 UTC)

Tragedy struck at Camp Mystic, where floods claimed the lives of 25 girls, two teenage counselors, and the camp's longtime director. In response, the families of those lost have launched the Safe Summers Foundation, aiming to get 27,000 parents to pledge to inquire about safety measures at summer camps. Additionally, new Texas legislation will enhance communication protocols for camps during power outages and prohibit the construction of cabins in flood-prone areas, reflecting a commitment to ongoing advocacy for child safety.

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(UPDATED July 2, 2026 15:47 UTC)

In a tragic aftermath of the floods that claimed over 130 lives, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, fathers Matthew Childress and Ryan DeWitt are advocating for improved summer camp safety. The families, known as "Heaven's 27," have filed a lawsuit against Camp Mystic for gross negligence, alleging that profit was prioritized over safety, and they are pushing for legislative changes, including the recently enacted Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act, which mandates warning systems and emergency training at summer camps. To further their cause, Childress and DeWitt have launched the Safe Summers Foundation, aiming to get 27,000 parents to pledge to inquire about camp safety while working closely with legislators to promote necessary reforms.