LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed legislation introduced by State Rep. Tina Davis to require organized camps located on property at risk of flooding to create and submit evacuation plans to their county's emergency management agency.
The bill comes after last year's flash flooding at Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls' summer camp in Texas that resulted in the death of 28 people, including 25 girls, ages 8 to 10.
"We must do everything in our power to avoid having to face a heartbreaking tragedy like what occurred in Texas last year," said Davis, who represents Bristol and Bristol Township.
Under House Bill 2398, municipalities would require the operator of an organized camp located within 500 feet of a special flood hazard area to prepare and maintain a written flood-evacuation plan for the premises.
Camp operators would then be required to file a copy of the plan with the Department of Health, as well as the county emergency management agency and local emergency management organization with jurisdiction over where the camp is located.
They would also be required to review and update the plan annually before the camp opens each year.
Additionally, operators must post a diagram or summary of evacuation routes and safe locations in each sleeping and dining facility and provide a copy or summary to adult campers, parents or guardians of children, and youth campers before each camp season.
Both the Pennsylvania Camp Association and the American Society of Landscape Architects PA/DE Chapter support this legislation.
House Bill 2398 now moves to the state Senate for further consideration.
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