Camp Mystic Files for Bankruptcy

The company behind Camp Mystic, where 28 people died in last summer's flash floods, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, saying it owes more than $10 million and holds less than that in assets, reports the New York Times. The Eastland family, which owns the Christian camp, had initially aimed to reopen this summer but ran into licensing obstacles and mounting pressure; in April, it said the camp would stay shut.

In the portion of the filing that listed possessions that need immediate attention, it cited the following, as reported by the Houston Chronicle: "the property poses or is alleged to pose a threat of imminent and identifiable hazard to public health or safety, needs to be physically secured or protected from the weather and it includes perishable goods or assets that could quickly deteriorate or lose value without attention."

The news comes a week after the findings of a Texas legislative investigation were released; the report faulted the camp for failing to prepare for and adequately respond to the July 4 flood. The evacuation of select cabins began at 3am, and the report states that "if all campers had been instructed to evacuate their cabins by foot at this time or earlier, there was ample time and opportunity for them all to safely reach higher ground."