Camp Mystic Parents Push for Change After Deadly Texas Floods

Parents of the young girls who died in the July 4 Camp Mystic floods in Texas are speaking out. In a heartfelt interview with Today’s Jenna Bush Hager on September 4, 2025, families shared their grief and their mission to drive change.

Seven of the twenty-seven parents came together to honor their daughters and to demand stronger safety standards for camps across Texas.

Remembering the Victims of the Camp Mystic Floods

The floods took the lives of Hadley, Cile, Mary, Molly, Virginia, Lila, and Abby. Their parents honored them with love and powerful memories.

“This was not a nightmare I had. This was something beyond that,” said Caitlin Bonner, mother of Lila.

The storms swept away Cile, and search teams still have not found her. Parents explained how every phone call and every message stops their hearts as they hope for news.

Parents Demand Safer Camps Across Texas

The grieving families insist the tragedy should never have happened.

“It became very, very clear that this wasn’t an accident. This was complacency and it is 100% preventable,” said Blake Bonner, father of Lila.

In August 2025, several families testified before the Texas State Senate to support Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act. The bill sets stricter safety rules for youth camps and campgrounds across the state.

“We would’ve done a massive disservice to our daughters if we hadn’t run with this and seen it through,” explained Johnny Stevens, father of Mary.

Camp Mystic Responds to the Safety Bill

Camp Mystic continues recovery efforts and backs new laws that improve camp safety.

In a statement, Camp Mystic said:
“We are still focused on recovery efforts at Camp Mystic and are not prepared to comment on specific legislation. However, Camp Mystic supports legislative efforts that will make camps and communities along the Guadalupe River safer.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TODAY (@todayshow)

Camp Mystic Devastated by Texas Flash Floods

Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian girls’ summer camp in Hunt, Kerr County, Texas, now faces unimaginable tragedy after deadly flash floods swept through the region.

Deadly Flood Claims 27 Lives

The disaster killed at least 27 campers and counselors after 10 to 12 inches of torrential rain poured down in just a few hours.

Guadalupe River Surges to Dangerous Levels

The Guadalupe River surged by nearly 22 to 29 feet in under two hours, destroying cabins, roads, and everything in its path. The sudden rise left little time for anyone to escape.

Youngest Campers Caught in the Flood

The flood hit the youngest campers first. Staff had placed them in low-lying cabins less than 500 feet from the Guadalupe River. When the water rushed in, those cabins stood directly in the path of the disaster.