Camp coverage tightens as insurers focus on disaster plans

Overnight summer camp operators are facing a tough insurance market marked by reduced capacity and a heightened focus on emergency planning and response, as the camp season looms.

The deadly flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas on July 4, 2025, which killed 25 campers and two counselors, has drawn attention to how operators plan for and respond to severe weather and other emergencies. The camp’s director also died in the flood.

Last September, Texas lawmakers passed legislation aimed at strengthening oversight of youth camps, requiring operators to install emergency warning systems and train staff on evacuation procedures.

In April, Alabama passed similar legislation requiring camps to maintain emergency preparedness and evacuation plans, install backup warning systems and coordinate with emergency management officials. A similar bill is pending in Missouri.

Camp licensing, emergency preparedness and insurance requirements vary by state.

Wrongful death lawsuits filed by parents of campers killed in the flooding at Camp Mystic allege the camp failed to adequately prepare for flood risks, lacked evacuation procedures and did not respond appropriately to emergency warnings. Camp Mystic announced on April 30 that it would not reopen for the 2026 summer season after withdrawing its application to renew its license with the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Many camps are reassessing their insurance coverage post-Camp Mystic, said Adrian Azer, Washington-based partner at Haynes Boone.

“They’re evaluating whether they have sufficient coverage for all kinds of lines, the most prominent being commercial general liability coverage, especially if there’s a significant disaster,” he said.

Summer camps have faced reduced insurance capacity in recent years as insurers pulled back due to sexual abuse and molestation claims and natural catastrophe exposures, said Maryann Mueller, Whippany, New Jersey-based senior underwriter at Risk Placement Services, the wholesale division of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

The number of insurers offering a “true summer camp policy” has dwindled to four, she said.

Some insurers have stopped covering camps in states exposed to wildfires and storms, such as Texas, while property coverage in California has become difficult and costly to obtain, Ms. Mueller said.

Overnight residential camps face a hardening market as insurers become more selective about risks, said Amanda Sayner, Stevens Point, Wisconsin-based underwriting manager for Special Markets Insurance Consultants, an Amwins-owned MGA that specializes in sports and youth risks.

Insurers are more cautious about open water swimming, ropes courses and trap shooting activities, as well as sexual abuse and molestation liability exposures, she said.

“The overnight exposure alone is something that is causing a lot of markets to shy away from camps,” Ms. Sayner said.

Insurers are placing greater emphasis on weather preparedness, evacuation planning and documented safety procedures, said Tracy Schmeltzer, Merrill, Wisconsin-based assistant vice president of camps, agency and groups at Church Mutual Insurance.

Liability capacity has tightened and some reinsurers have pulled back from the market, she said. Typical general liability policies offer $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate in limits.

More questions are being asked about how camps prepare for severe weather. “The key there is having a plan in place, not just having it in place, but practicing it before it’s an emergency,” Ms. Schmeltzer said.

Underwriters are reviewing warning systems and whether camps have backup communication methods if WiFi or internet service fails, said Brett Ziegel, Merrill, Wisconsin-based underwriting manager for camps at Church Mutual.

Camps are encouraged to obtain accreditation through camp associations and are evaluated on compliance with safety standards related to aquatics, abuse prevention, staff training and ropes courses, he said. “We’re looking for those written policies and procedures to be in place,” Mr. Ziegel said.

“We’re seeing a shift in expectations from external stakeholders, whether that’s families, regulators, or courts, who are really looking for camps to be more proactive in addressing the risk,” he said.

Camp operators should regularly review and update their emergency plans, based on changing risks and lessons learned from recent disasters, said Henry DeHart, Raleigh, North Carolina-based CEO of the American Camps Association.

Backup communication systems and emergency alerts that continue functioning during power outages or cell service disruptions are essential, he said. Camps should ensure they have reliable ways to receive weather alerts and quickly communicate with campers and staff during emergencies. “Do you have redundant communication systems in place?” Mr. DeHart said.

Local first responders should be invited to review emergency plans, while insurers can provide guidance to help improve preparedness, he said.

The American Camp Association’s national accreditation program includes nearly 300 standards related to health, safety, and risk management. The voluntary program is intended to help camps align practices with established standards.

Camp operators should communicate with parents quickly and transparently during emergencies because “the parents have to hear from the camp first,” said Rod Hughes, president of Kimball Hughes Public Relations based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. If parents learn about an incident through news reports or other families first, “that can be a disaster for the camp,” he said.

Kimball Hughes was retained by an insurance agency specializing in children’s camps for nearly two decades to provide crisis communications training and emergency response support.

Camps should regularly conduct drills and tabletop exercises, so staff know how to respond during emergencies, Mr. Hughes said. “Training is really important, but putting folks through their paces is even more so,” he said.

“When you’re caring for other people’s children, your reputation is the most critical thing,” he said.