{"id":8682,"date":"2026-02-18T09:19:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T09:19:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/?p=8682"},"modified":"2026-02-18T09:19:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T09:19:23","slug":"parents-of-teen-counselor-killed-in-texas-flood-question-camps-decision-to-reopen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/?p=8682","title":{"rendered":"Parents of Teen Counselor Killed in Texas Flood Question Camp\u2019s Decision to Reopen\u2026."},"content":{"rendered":"

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A teenage camp counselor who lost her life in last year\u2019s devastating flood in Texas is being remembered by her parents as a hero, as they question the camp\u2019s plans to resume operations this summer.
\nThe catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country began in the early hours of July 4, 2025, claiming more than 135 lives, including 27 people at Camp Mystic. One of those victims was 19-year-old counselor Katherine Ferruzzo. Her body was recovered a week after the disaster.
\nIn an interview with CBS News, Katherine\u2019s mother, Andrea, said her daughter \u2014 who was preparing to begin her freshman year at the University of Texas in Austin \u2014 sacrificed herself while trying to protect the young campers in her care. \u201cShe died a hero,\u201d Andrea said, explaining that Katherine gave her life attempting to save the girls.
\nFive months later, in December 2025, the all-girls summer camp announced that it would reopen its Cypress Lake site in 2026, though its Guadalupe River location would stay closed. Andrea said the decision felt like a return to \u201cbusiness as usual,\u201d questioning how the camp could welcome campers back without first resolving the problems that contributed to the tragedy.
\nThe Ferruzzos spoke out shortly after the parents of 8-year-old Cecilia \u201cCile\u201d Steward \u2014 who is still missing \u2014 filed a lawsuit accusing the camp\u2019s operators of negligence. In response, an attorney representing Camp Mystic rejected what he described as inaccuracies in the lawsuit. He argued that the floodwaters rose suddenly and reached levels far beyond any previously recorded in the region, calling the event both unexpected and impossible to predict. He also stated that there were no sufficient early-warning flood systems in place at the time.
\nIn November, the families of five campers and two counselors also filed a lawsuit, alleging that the camp\u2019s leadership prioritized profits over safety.
\nFollowing the disaster, officials announced plans to install around 100 flood warning sirens along the Guadalupe River. Katherine\u2019s father, John Ferruzzo, described the measure as \u201ca good start,\u201d but stressed that additional safeguards are necessary. He emphasized the importance of having a clear evacuation strategy, properly training counselors on emergency procedures, and establishing reliable communication systems.
\nJohn said his daughter was someone who took action and would want her family to keep pushing for change. Andrea added that dedicating herself to causes Katherine cared about motivates her each day. Honoring her daughter\u2019s name and continuing her legacy, she said, gives the family a sense of purpose amid their grief.<\/p>\n