U.S. House unanimously passes Mystic Alerts Act to require emergency preparedness

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(The Center Square) – As hearings continue to be held in Austin in lawsuits filed by parents against Camp Mystic, and as a multi-state agency investigation continues, a Texas congressman’s bill to require updating a national emergency preparedness system unanimously passed the U.S. House.

U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, a Republican from the Panhandle, filed the Mystic Alerts Act to modernize the national emergency alert infrastructure by integrating satellite networks into the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system. The alert system is voluntary.

Pfluger’s two daughters were at the camp during the historic July 4 flood last year that killed nearly 200 people in multiple counties, including 25 campers and two counselors at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, The Center Square reported. Pfluger’s daughters survived.

The bill passed as controversy continues after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has repeatedly called on the state agency tasked with regulating youth camps to not grant a license to Camp Mystic until state legislative, agency and criminal investigations are concluded. The camp attempted to demolish cabins where girls died, prompting the parents of one daughter, Cile Steward, whose body has never been found, to sue. A judge in Austin issued an injunction, extending it again last week, preventing the camp from doing so.  

When asked why the camp would not stop destroying evidence and honor the Stewards’ request to not demolish the cabins, its director Edward Eastland replied he didn’t know. 

Camp Mystic director Edward Eastland faced questioning in court Tuesday, as an attorney for the family of 8-year-old Cecilia “Cile” Steward pressed him over a request to stop altering the flood-ravaged site while the search for the girl continued after the devastating Texas… pic.twitter.com/CMKxZ45EIq

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 17, 2026

State lawmakers also recently visited the camp for the first time since the flood as part of the legislature’s investigation. The camp argues it should be allowed to reopen a different area and is in compliance with new state laws and regulations. It’s already begun holding orientations with parents and roughly 900 campers who’ve registered to attend this summer. Parents of daughters who died there argue reopening is causing ongoing pain and suffering and ignoring the fact that part of the property is considered a potential crime scene.

"The devastating July 4th floods that tore through Central and West Texas, including Camp Mystic where two of my daughters were staying, were a powerful reminder of the stakes,” Pfluger said. His bill “steps up where our systems often fall short, ensuring Wireless Emergency Alerts can still be delivered via satellite when traditional networks fail. This means life-saving information can reach families and first responders when it matters most.” 

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-GA, whose granddaughters were at Camp Mystic, was a cosponsor. “My granddaughters were staying at Camp Mystic when the devastating floods claimed the lives of many young girls, including their cousin, Janie Hunt,” Carter said. “No child or family should have to endure a tragedy like this again. This bill will strengthen communication infrastructure during emergencies by implementing satellite-enabled alerts that can mean the difference between life and death.”

One of the biggest criticisms of county law enforcement and local officials was not having an emergency warning system in place, including having cell phone towers, cell phone service, flood warning or monitoring systems in place, and not issuing evacuations. The state legislature addressed some of these issues after holding hearings last year. 

While children of other families were also swept away by the flood waters, the deaths at the multi-million dollar Camp Mystic property have been viewed as preventable. The youngest girls were housed closest to the river and when the storm hit, they were told to stay in their cabins. Multiple parents filed wrongful death lawsuits alleging gross negligence. Parents also argue the camp was not in compliance with state regulations, prompting another lawsuit against the state agency that granted the camp’s operating license. The camp continues to deny culpability.

Texas Democrat U.S. Reps. Lizzie Fletcher and Marc Veasey also cosponsored the bill. Veasey said it “will ensure that emergency alerts are disseminated through satellites even if commercial cell providers are unable to provide service.” 

The current system relies on cell towers, which are limited in Kerr County and throughout the Hill Country region. 

The four page bill requires each commercial mobile service provider that voluntarily elects to transmit emergency alerts to notify the Federal Communications Commission of their plans to transmit emergency alerts by satellite to their mobile subscribers or users. If the providers choose not to transmit emergency alerts by satellite, they must notify new and existing subscribers and users. They must also provide a consumer choice to opt out.

The bill is expected to pass the U.S. Senate and be signed into law.