The mom of a girl killed during a devastating flood at Camp Mystic is speaking out against the camp reopening.
Speaking with the New York Post, Jennifer Getten says she is horrified that the camp is trying to reopen. Getten's daughter, Ellen, died last year when the camp flooded. In total, 25 campers died in the resulting flood at the camp.
"The trauma that all of these children experienced is horrific," she told the outlet. "For them to think they can just take on hundreds more children before we even know completely everything that happened is just unbelievable."
The news horrified Getten's 12-year-old daughter, Gwynne.
"Someone had told Gwynne at school that the camp was thinking about reopening, and she was horrified," Getten said. "She screamed, 'They can't reopen! They can't reopen!'"
Camp Mystic has had an uphill battle to reopen. The camp has faced ongoing investigations in the months since the Guadalupe River flood killed 25 campers and two workers. Despite the controversy, more than 900 girls registered to attend if the camp does reopen.
Camp Mystic Controversy
However, for Getten, the news is disheartening and distasteful. Her daughter still has nightmares.
"It was pure hell. She doesn't like to talk about it. She did get evacuated. And it was complete chaos,'' she said. "She walked by her sister's cabin and wanted to grab her, and she was told no. She was put into a building that was almost 100 years old, and it was swaying in the rain. When we got reunited with her, she got helicoptered out of there still not knowing where her sister was."
The young girl collapsed after leaving Camp Mystic.
"When we finally got reunited with [Gwynne], it was probably one of the worst moments of my entire life. She collapsed to the ground screaming that she doesn't want to be an only child and where is her sister," her mom reflected.
Sadly, her sister passed away in the flood.
"I think it's extremely irresponsible to open a camp with little girls when there are numerous investigations going on," she said. "From everything we heard the last few days, it's extremely disturbing they want to take care of children right now without finding out what happened."
