The grief-stricken family of Ellen Getten, a 9-year-old Houston girl who perished in the Camp Mystic flooding on July 4, has initiated legal action against the summer camp. Ellen was one of the 27 casualties at the private Christian girls’ camp when a catastrophic wave of floodwaters engulfed the premises. The Gettens’ lawsuit, as reported by the Houston Chronicle, charges Camp Mystic with “gross negligence,” claiming the camp failed to heed weather alerts and neglected the safety of its campers and staff by placing cabins within recognized flood zones.
According to KHOU 11, Jennie and Doug Getten recalled sending their daughter Ellen, a student at St. John’s School, to Camp Mystic filled with the typical joy of a child eager for summer adventures. Jennie Getten lamented, “For [Ellen] to come home in a casket is just unbearable.” At least three other families have filed similar lawsuits against the camp, seeking justice for the events of July 4th, which the Gettens stress should have been met with urgency and readiness by the camp’s management.
The litigation intends to hold Camp Mystic accountable, with the families demanding transparency from the camp about the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Jennifer Getten told the Houston Chronicle, “We filed the lawsuit because we don’t want any other family to go through this again.” The family’s anguish is palpable, with the Gettens expressing the void left by Ellen’s death and a deep resolve to implement changes that would prevent future tragedies…