Families file negligence suits against US camp for deadly flash flood

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - The families of six children and two counselors killed in a deadly flooding disaster in July at a US girls' summer camp filed two lawsuits, alleging negligence against the camp's owners, NBC News reported.

The catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River in the state of Texas led to at least 135 deaths, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls.

The lawsuits filed Monday assert that Camp Mystic was situated in a known flood zone, which is part of a US region called "Flash Flood Alley."

Attorneys for the plaintiffs claim the camp "failed to adopt legally required evacuation plans, ignored repeated weather warnings, and implemented unsafe policies" despite the well-documented danger. They also allege that camp staff prioritized securing equipment over the lives of those in their care.

Jeff Ray, a lawyer for Camp Mystic, challenged the claims, stating in a statement to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth that the magnitude of the flooding was unexpected and the suits contained "misinformation."

Ray said the owners intend to "demonstrate and prove that this sudden surge of floodwaters far exceeded any previous flood in the area," arguing that "no adequate warning systems existed in the area."

The flooding began as heavy rains engulfed the Guadalupe River, pushing it to a crest of more than 39 feet (11.8 meters), surpassing the region's second-largest modern flood in 1987.