Families in Texas are still reeling after the 4^th of July flood that killed over 130 people, including 27 staffers and campers at Camp Mystic. Yet, despite the devastating loss, Camp Mystic sent an email stating it planned to reopen next summer, coinciding with the camp’s 100-year anniversary. The camp’s main campus will not be the site reopening due to “devastating damage,” but its sister site, Camp Mystic Cyprus Lake will. The email also stated that the camp plans to build a memorial for the 25 campers and two counselors that were killed during the flood. “We hope this space will serve as a place of reflection and remembrance of these beautiful girls. We continue to pray for the grieving families and all those who lost loved ones,” according to the statement. Plans to rebuild the main campus are still being considered, although cabins that were flooded during the flood will not be used.

The camp’s decision to reopen drew controversy for several reasons. First, following the aftermath of the flood, the camp drew criticism for its lack of preparedness in the event of a flood. The camp’s lack of an outdoor warning system was criticized. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation after the flood requiring “local governments in flood-prone areas to install outdoor siren and warning systems.” The legislation also required camps to “install and maintain emergency alert systems, train staff on evacuation routes and procedures … develop emergency plans, require cabins to be located away from flood plains, (and) be able to communicate with campers and staff during emergencies.” Camp Mystic’s statement included its intention to implement a new plan to comply with the new state standards.

The plan to reopen received outrage from victims’ families. “The truth is, Camp Mystic failed our daughters. For the camp, it seems like nothing more than a brief pause before business as usual,” said Cici Steward, whose 8-year-old daughter, Cile, was lost during the floods. Her body has yet to be recovered. “Camp Mystic is pressing ahead with reopening, even if it means inviting girls to swim in the same river that may potentially still hold my daughter’s body.” Katie and Clarke Baker, whose eight-year-old daughter Mary Grace was killed in the flood, called the reopening part of an “ongoing nightmare.” “Our families are living an ongoing nightmare. Less than three months after 27 girls lost their lives — under circumstances we believe were preventable — Camp Mystic is already announcing plans to reopen,” said the Bakers. Representatives for the families have stated they were not consulted about the reopening or the memorial. The camp justified its decision in a statement to ABC News. “Our decision to partially reopen areas of the camp is informed by our faith and our commitment to continue the nearly century-long mission and ministry of Camp Mystic to provide a Christian camping experience for girls that allows them to grow physically, mentally and spiritually.”