Parents of Camp Mystic counselor demand changes after her death in Texas floods

Katherine Ferruzzo, 19, died trying to save campers during devastating floods at the Christian summer camp.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The parents of 19-year-old Katherine Ferruzzo, a counselor at Camp Mystic in Texas who died in last summer's devastating floods, are demanding changes from the camp in their first television interview. Katherine had attended the camp for 10 years and was the last counselor found after the flooding that killed 27 at the camp and more than 135 people across the Texas Hill Country. The Ferruzzos say the tragedy was preventable and are pushing for legislation to make camps safer nationwide.

Why it matters

The Camp Mystic tragedy has sparked a push for greater safety regulations at summer camps across the country, with the victims' families advocating for new laws in Texas and beyond to prevent similar disasters. The Ferruzzos' grief has also inspired them to honor their daughter's memory through the Katherine Ferruzzo Legacy Foundation, which supports special education causes she cared about.

The details

Katherine, her co-counselor Chloe Childress, and 25 campers were among those swept away as the flood waters rose during a torrential storm last Fourth of July weekend. Less than a year later, Camp Mystic is enrolling children with plans to reopen one of its two campuses, farther from the river, this summer. The camp has also been slapped with its fifth lawsuit from the family of an 8-year-old camper who has yet to be found.

  • Last Fourth of July weekend, the devastating floods occurred at Camp Mystic.
  • In September, the victims' families helped pass a new Texas law prohibiting camps in FEMA-designated floodplains and requiring annual emergency training.
  • This summer, Camp Mystic plans to reopen one of its two campuses, farther from the river.

The players

Katherine Ferruzzo

A 19-year-old counselor at Camp Mystic who died trying to save campers during the floods.

Andrea Ferruzzo

The mother of Katherine Ferruzzo.

John Ferruzzo

The father of Katherine Ferruzzo.

Britt Eastland

The current director of Camp Mystic.

Richard "Dick" Eastland

The former Camp Mystic director who died in the disaster while attempting to move children to safety.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Katherine died a hero. She gave her life trying to save those little girls.”

— Andrea Ferruzzo, Mother of Katherine Ferruzzo (CBS News)

“If we do it right, then the girls will have an amazing experience. They'll gain so much by being together. It can be very healing.”

— Britt Eastland, Camp Mystic Director (CBS News)

“The sirens are a good start. But then, you must have an evacuation plan in place. The counselors have to be trained on what to do with their campers. There needs to be a communication system.”

— John Ferruzzo, Father of Katherine Ferruzzo (CBS News)

What’s next

About 100 flood warning sirens will be built along the Guadalupe River, which will give people more notice to evacuate in the event of rising water.

The takeaway

The Camp Mystic tragedy has sparked a push for greater safety regulations at summer camps across the country, with the victims' families advocating for new laws in Texas and beyond to prevent similar disasters. The Ferruzzos' grief has also inspired them to honor their daughter's memory through the Katherine Ferruzzo Legacy Foundation, which supports special education causes she cared about.