ASFPM Releases New Flood Safety Resources for Camps, Campgrounds, and RV Parks
Catastrophic flash flooding struck the Texas Hill Country over the July 4, 2025 holiday weekend, ultimately killing at least 139 people. Among the tragedies of that weekend, the flooding at Camp Mystic claimed 28 lives — including 25 young campers, two counselors, and the camp’s longtime co-owner and director. In the hearings that followed, one fact became painfully clear: the camp had no comprehensive Emergency Action Plan in place.
In response, ASFPM has released two new resources designed to help ensure no camp, campground, or RV park is caught similarly unprepared.
“Camp Mystic was a tragedy that didn’t have to happen,” said Chad Berginnis, ASFPM Executive Director. “We know that flash floods can rise with very little warning, and we know what it takes to keep people safe when they do. We created these resources so that every camp, campground, and RV park — and every community responsible for regulating them — has practical tools to do exactly that.”
Texas Legislature Report Confirms EAP Gaps
In a 115-page report released last month by the Texas Legislature, investigators identified four main failures, which led to the tragedy. Camp Mystic:
- Failed to maintain written emergency plans that complied with state requirements
- Failed to adequately prepare for the July 3–4, 2025 storm
- Failed to evacuate in time, despite having ample opportunity to do so
- Mismanaged reunification efforts and incident response, causing further trauma for families
The report also includes a list of the legislative reforms the State of Texas has taken to date to address the deficiencies exposed at Camp Mystic and other youth camps during the July 2025 flood.
A Step-by-Step Guide for Camp Owners and Managers
The first ASFPM resource, Flooding Emergency Action Plan: A Developmental Guide for Camps, Campgrounds and RV Parks, walks camp and campground owners through the process of building an effective Emergency Action Plan, including flood risk assessment, staff roles and responsibilities, detection and alert systems, evacuation triggers, and ongoing plan maintenance.
The guide draws on real-world scenarios, including a detailed hypothetical built around a flash-flood-prone campground during a crowded holiday weekend, to help owners think through the worst-case combinations of factors their plan needs to handle. It also includes side-by-side “weak example” and “strong example” language to show owners exactly how specific their EAP needs to be to hold up in an actual emergency.
Model Ordinance Language for Local Jurisdictions
ASFPM’s second resource, Model Floodplain Ordinance: Guidance and Draft Language for Campground Operations, is aimed at a different audience: local jurisdictions, floodplain administrators, and legal counsel. It provides draft ordinance language that communities can adapt to require EAPs for camps, campgrounds, and RV parks operating in flood-prone areas — closing common gaps in existing floodplain ordinances, including missing definitions, permitting requirements, and minimum standards for what a compliant EAP must include.
Together, the two resources are designed to work in tandem: one helps camp owners build a strong plan, and the other helps ensure that having one isn’t optional.
“An EAP only works if it actually gets written, exercised, and followed,” Berginnis added. “Our hope is that these resources make that process as straightforward as possible — for camp owners doing the work, and for the communities responsible for holding the standard.”
Both resources are available now as free downloads. ASFPM will offer EAP training later this summer and will soon begin working with its 38 state and regional chapters to increase access and visibility of the resources nationwide.
