{"id":163029,"date":"2025-08-21T05:46:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T05:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/163029\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T05:46:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T05:46:13","slug":"houston-families-among-those-pushing-for-camp-safety-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/163029\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston families among those pushing for camp safety laws"},"content":{"rendered":"

AUSTIN, Texas<\/strong> \u2013 Houston parents are mourning their children lost in a deadly Camp Mystic flood\u2014and demanding lawmakers act before another tragedy strikes.<\/p>\n

On a night meant for celebration, a sudden flash flood turned Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, into the ground zero for a historic flooding disaster. <\/p>\n

A total of 27 campers and counselors were washed away in the raging flood waters of the Guadalupe River in the early morning hours of July 4. <\/p>\n

A<\/b>LSO READ: <\/b>\u2018We sent her to camp, not a war zone\u2019: Parents testify after Camp Mystic flood deaths<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Those victims include daughters from Houston families whose heartbreak now fuels a fierce fight for change. <\/p>\n

This tragedy exposed deadly gaps in camp safety that lawmakers must urgently address through Senate Bill 1, a bipartisan effort to protect Texas children from preventable disasters. <\/p>\n

The voices of Houston\u2019s grieving parents bring a powerful, personal call for accountability and reform that cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Houston families who lost daughters in the flood are among those who have stepped forward with powerful testimony, sharing their grief and demanding immediate action to protect other children. <\/p>\n

Their stories bring a deeply personal perspective to the legislative debate.<\/p>\n

Lucy Dillon: A gifted leader lost too soon<\/b><\/p>\n

Brant Dillon, father of 8-year-old Lucy Dillon, described the devastating impact of losing his daughter.<\/p>\n

Lucy was a straight-A student who excelled in gifted and talented programs and was an exceptional athlete.<\/p>\n

Lucy D<\/p>\n

Lucy Dillon, a victim of the Texas Hill Country flood, was at Camp Mystic when the wall of water slammed into the summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas. (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was kind, she was a leader. She was gritty. And she always gave 100% effort,\u201d Brant said.<\/p>\n

Lucy was also a devoted sister and a best friend to her family. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe was my best friend. Our greatest contribution to society. And today I sit before you, a broken man,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n

Brant emphasized the preventable nature of the tragedy. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur world has been shattered by a tragedy that was 100% preventable,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

He urged lawmakers to enforce safety reforms so no other parent faces the pain he endures. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe must make sure that when parents entrust their children to camps, that they can have the confidence that facilities are safe, operators are prepared, and emergency plans are sufficient and executable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Molly Claire DeWitt: A bright light and compassionate soul<\/b><\/p>\n

Ryan DeWitt spoke for his 9-year-old daughter Molly Claire, who was known for her curiosity, compassion, and faith. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe squeezed more into nine years than many do into 90,\u201d Ryan said.<\/p>\n

Molly Claire DeWitt, a victim of the Texas Hill Country flood, was at Camp Mystic when the wall of water slammed into the summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas. (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

Molly\u2019s generosity extended beyond her circle of friends to include homeless people, refugees, and children with disabilities. <\/p>\n

Ryan recalled her heartfelt words: \u201cIt hurts my heart to see people hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryan also honored Molly\u2019s older sister Annie, who survived the flood and showed remarkable strength. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnnie taught her things Elizabeth and I could not. Molly was her biggest fan and always will be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ryan called on lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 1 without delay. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here before you today as grieving parents… but also as pillars of strength for our daughters\u2019 legacies to ensure that what happened on July 4th never, ever happens again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lainey Landry: The sweet daughter who made her family whole<\/b><\/p>\n

Ben Landry, father of Lainey Landry, described his daughter as the \u201csweet, loving daughter that Natalie and myself wanted so badly.\u201d <\/p>\n

Lainey was the youngest sibling and brought joy and softness to her family. <\/p>\n

Lainey Anne Landry, a victim of the Texas Hill Country flood, was at Camp Mystic when the wall of water slammed into the summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas. (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

\u201cShe made our family whole, but more importantly, she softened out the edges of myself and my boys,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s testimony was a call for accountability. <\/p>\n

\u201cAll of these girls were put in a position to fail. They were told their directions were to fail. And that\u2019s what happened that night,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He urged lawmakers to impose safety standards on camps similar to those in schools and daycares. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo emergency plans and no evacuation training is not acceptable. There is not an industry I know that would allow this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chloe Madeleine Childress: Counselor and hero who followed the rules<\/b><\/p>\n

Matthew Childress, father of 18-year-old counselor Chloe Madeleine Childress, shared a heartfelt tribute to his daughter. <\/p>\n

Chloe was a rule follower who died trying to save campers during the flood. <\/p>\n

Chloe Madeline Childress, a victim of the Texas Hill Country flood, was at Camp Mystic when the wall of water slammed into the summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas. (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

\u201cChloe was killed following the manners that I taught her. I lost my firstborn. My machine, my running buddy, and my hero,\u201d Matthew said.<\/p>\n

Chloe was a graduate of Houston\u2019s Kincaid School and was set to study pre-med at the University of Texas. <\/p>\n

Matthew described her as \u201cfun, spontaneous, a troublemaker, but also smart, studious and driven.\u201d<\/p>\n

He emphasized that Chloe and fellow counselor Catherine Ferruzzo died as heroes, following instructions that tragically led to their deaths. <\/p>\n

\u201cFourteen girls scrambling for their lives, because they did what they were told,\u201d Matthew said.<\/p>\n

Matthew called for urgent passage of Senate Bill 1 to prevent future tragedies. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo child should sleep in a floodplain. Camps need effective early warning systems, detailed evacuation plans, and proper training. These are basic protections every parent should expect.\u201d<\/p>\n

A united call for change and accountability<\/b><\/p>\n

Houston families\u2019 testimonies revealed both grief and determination, as they called on lawmakers to pass and enforce Senate Bill 1. <\/p>\n

The measure would require camps to have safe locations, early warning systems, detailed evacuation plans, sufficient staffing and comprehensive training.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was 100% preventable,\u201d said Ryan DeWitt. \u201cWe are here as grieving parents, but also as pillars of strength for our daughters\u2019 legacies to ensure this never happens again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brant Dillon added, \u201cIf the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people\u2026 I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.\u201d<\/p>\n

The families\u2019 message was clear: the time to act is now. The memories of the 27 young victims demand nothing less.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"AUSTIN, Texas \u2013 Houston parents are mourning their children lost in a deadly Camp Mystic flood\u2014and demanding lawmakers…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":163030,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5130],"tags":[31674,61170,94241,31463,16217,8580,4345,34227,40037,30887,30742,94240,728,94238,94239,358,10431,74406,3187,61],"class_list":{"0":"post-163029","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-camp-mystic","9":"tag-center-point","10":"tag-chloe-childress","11":"tag-comfort","12":"tag-flood","13":"tag-flooding","14":"tag-houston","15":"tag-hunt","16":"tag-ingram","17":"tag-kerr-county","18":"tag-kerrville","19":"tag-lainey-landry","20":"tag-local-news","21":"tag-lucy-dillon","22":"tag-molly-dewitt","23":"tag-texas","24":"tag-texas-hill-country","25":"tag-texas-hill-country-flood","26":"tag-tx","27":"tag-u-s-news"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115065178396578250","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163029"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163029\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/163030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=163029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}