A few days and weeks after the death of his 9-year-old daughter Lila Camp Mystic In Texas Hill Country, Blakebonner wondered whether tragedy was simply an unstoppable act of God, or whether something could have been done to prevent it.
Lila was one of 27 camp mystic campers and a counselor. They were wiped out by their deaths When the rapidly rising floods of the Guadalupe River roamed the girls’ summer camp. The devastating flooding in Texas on July 4th killed at least 136 people and washed away homes and vehicles.
“It has become clear that this incident is 100% preventable,” Bonner said.
Many other parents and families of the girl who died at Bonner and Camp Mystic were in the Texas House and Senate galleries this week during special sessions to ultimately approve a series of bills aimed at preventing similar tragedy. Many of them shared hugs, handshakes and tears as they passed.
Gov. Governor Greg Abbott is scheduled for a bill signing ceremony with legislative leaders and some of Camp Mystic’s parents on Friday.
The measures aim to improve the safety of children’s camps by banning cabins in dangerous parts of the flood zone, and requiring camp operators to develop detailed emergency plans, train workers, and installing and maintaining emergency warning systems. Allocate $240 million from the state’s rainy day disaster relief fund, with warning sirens and money for improved weather forecasts.
“All the important doctrines we were looking for were addressed in these bills,” Bonner said.
Matthew Childress, one of the two counselors whose 18-year-old daughter Chloe was murdered, said the family’s efforts to pursue the law began with bonds developed through shared grief. When they grieved together, sometimes attending funerals for other children, they grew closer.
When Abbott announced plans to deal with flood relief as part of a special session, Childress said some parents raised concerns that camp safety might be overlooked. Parents began to become more organized and discussed what priorities lawmakers should consider.
“That’s really important to me, and we have as much unity as possible,” Childress said. “I am trying to create something positive that can give me the purpose of my family and that we can honor Chloe.
Many families Provided testimony that hurts the intestines At the Austin hearing, urges lawmakers to pass laws to keep campers safe.
Despite their unified voices and persuasive explanations from their parents, there was no guarantee that all bills would reach the governor’s desk. Childress acknowledged that conservative legislators are usually not keen to impose government regulations on private companies.
At least three Carr County Youth Camp owners said the law would create economic hardships to encourage lawmakers to reconsider some of the new proposals, according to a letter to Governor Dan Patrick. Retrieved by Texas Tribune.
Childress said he made it clear to lawmakers that he supports youth camps and hopes they will flourish. He believes the new law will guarantee it and hopes the law will become a model for other states.
“Our hope is that for millions of Texas campers, this victory could potentially be leveraged by tens of millions of campers in other states across the country,” Childress said.
