Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Camp operators and state health officials urge clearer, site‑specific emergency plans after Hill Country floods
Summary
Camp operators, the Department of State Health Services and the American Camp Association told lawmakers that youth camps need site‑specific emergency plans, redundant non‑cell communications, and coordination with local first responders; legislators questioned whether overnight accommodations should be allowed in flash‑flood‑prone locations.
Representatives of Texas youth camps, the Department of State Health Services and national camp groups told the House Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee that youth camps must strengthen site‑specific emergency plans, establish non‑cell communications, and coordinate with local emergency responders after the July Hill Country floods.
"There is a statutory framework in Health and Safety Code, Chapter 141, and camps are required to have written emergency plans," Dr. Timothy Stevenson, testifying for the Texas Department of State Health Services, told the committee. He said DSHS inspects roughly 374 youth camps annually, aims to inspect about 95 percent of licensed camps during the operating season, and reviews each…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
