The parents of 19-year-old counselor Katherine Ferruzzo criticized Camp Mystic's plan to reopen its Cypress Lake site in 2026, calling the move premature and disrespectful. Katherine was among 27 victims at Camp Mystic when flash floods struck on July 4, 2025, part of storms that killed more than 135 people. Families have filed lawsuits alleging negligence while the camp maintains the flooding was unprecedented and unforeseeable. Authorities are proposing safety upgrades, including roughly 100 river sirens, and the Ferruzzo family has launched a foundation raising over $1 million for special education.
‘Died a Hero’: Parents Call Camp Mystic’s 2026 Reopening ‘Disrespectful’ After Deadly Texas Flood
Katherine Ferruzzo's parents John and Andrea FerruzzoCBS News/YouTube
The parents of 19-year-old Camp Mystic counselor Katherine Ferruzzo say the camp's decision to reopen a location next summer is premature and disrespectful after last summer's catastrophic flood in Texas Hill Country.
Katherine was one of 27 people who died at Camp Mystic when sudden, powerful floodwaters struck during the early morning hours of July 4, 2025. The storms across the region killed more than 135 people in total, and Katherine's remains were recovered about a week after the disaster. She had been preparing to start her freshman year at the University of Texas at Austin.
What the Family Says
"She died a hero," Andrea Ferruzzo told CBS News, adding that Katherine "gave her life trying to save those little girls."
In December 2025, Camp Mystic announced it would reopen its Cypress Lake site for the 2026 season while keeping the Guadalupe River camp closed. The Ferruzzos say that decision came as a shock.
"It just seems to me like it's all just business, business as usual," Andrea said. "How could they be ready to accept campers back to their camp without addressing all of the issues that led to the tragedy?"
Legal Response and The Camp's Position
Families of victims have filed multiple lawsuits. The parents of 8-year-old Cecilia "Cile" Steward, who remains missing, have sued Camp Mystic's operators alleging negligence. In November, the families of five campers and two counselors also filed suit, accusing camp owners of prioritizing finances over safety.
Camp Mystic's attorney told local media the company disagrees with the allegations, saying they will demonstrate the surge of floodwaters "far exceeded any previous flood in the area by several magnitudes," was "unexpected and unforeseeable," and that no adequate early-warning systems existed in the area.
Calls For Concrete Safety Reforms
Authorities and community leaders say the disaster has prompted plans to improve flood warning and emergency response along the Guadalupe River. CBS News reported that roughly 100 flood-warning sirens are proposed for the river corridor; Katherine's father, John Ferruzzo, called the sirens "a good start" but said broader measures are needed.
"You must have an evacuation plan in place," John said. "The counselors have to be trained on what to do with their campers. There needs to be a communication system."
The Family's Response
The Ferruzzos, who live in Houston, launched the Katherine Ferruzzo Legacy Foundation to honor their daughter. The foundation has raised more than $1 million to support special education programs, an effort the family says helps channel grief into meaningful work.
As legal proceedings continue and the 2026 camp season approaches, grieving families and community members are pressing for a thorough review of safety protocols, early-warning systems and evacuation plans before campers return.
Read the original reporting on People for full coverage and ongoing updates.
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