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In Montgomery, Alabama, Patrick Marsh found himself back at the Bubble Inn cabin at Camp Mystic, seated in the very spot where his daughter Sarah, aged 8, once slept. The scene outside the window was a painful reminder of the tragedy that unfolded.
Marsh reflected on the devastating flood that took his daughter’s life, convinced that her death could have been avoided. He noted that safety from the floodwaters was merely a short distance away, reinforcing his belief that the loss was entirely preventable.
“It was just 50 yards from where Sarah slept to the high ground that could have saved her. All they needed to do was walk up a hill,” he shared in an interview.
Sarah Marsh, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, was among the 27 campers and counselors who perished when floodwaters overtook the cabins at the Texas camp on July 4, 2025. In the wake of this tragedy, grieving parents successfully lobbied Texas lawmakers to implement stricter safety protocols for camps, which now include comprehensive emergency plans and alert systems. Sarah’s parents are advocating for similar legislation in Alabama and beyond, while comparable measures have been proposed in Missouri.
“As we dug deeper into the events at Mystic, it became clear that numerous failures contributed to the disaster,” Patrick Marsh remarked.
The Alabama bill, named the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, would require camps to meet safety standards, including obtaining an emergency preparedness license from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and establishing emergency and evacuation plans. It also would prohibit cabins from being located in flood plains. Camps would be required to have weather radios and a notification system that does not rely on cellular or internet service, which could fail in a natural disaster.
“The flood itself was an act of God, and there’s nothing you can do to stop the flood. But how you prepare for the possibility of flooding, how you handle it in the moment, those things were handled so poorly,” Patrick Marsh said.
Had they been done properly, he believes, “Sarah would be sitting in school right now.”
As they examined camp regulations, the Marshes said they were shocked by how little oversight exists compared to schools and other institutions responsible for children’s safety.
“It was a big surprise, both in Texas and here, to see how little is required and is just self-regulated,” Sarah’s mother, Dr. Jill Marsh, said.
Camp safety laws must reflect regional risks — from floods and tornadoes to wildfires and hurricanes — rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, the couple said.
The younger of two siblings, Sarah was exuberant, with an infectious mix of sass and sweetness, her parents said.
“She was just excited about everything,” Jill Marsh said. “She was always wrangling kids to play, to do gymnastics, to try something new. She was good at seeing people that were maybe left out or sad and would try to encourage them.”
She loved sushi — particularly California rolls — candy and, most of all, people, they said. She made everyone feel special.
Sarah was excited to go to camp that summer, Patrick Marsh said.
The photos from camp that summer show Sarah having the time of her life, often happily showing off her splits, no matter the activity.
Jill Marsh spoke to the House State Government Committee on Wednesday. She said she wants Sarah to be remembered for her “incredible, beautiful life,” not just her death. But Sarah’s legacy can be that children are kept safe as they experience one of the joys of childhood, she said.
The committee advanced the bill, which is backed by Gov. Kay Ivey, to the full House of Representatives.
Rep. David Faulkner, the bill’s sponsor, said the Camp Mystic tragedy exposed gaps in the safety system. “These gaps exist not only in Texas, but in Alabama and across the country,” Faulkner said.
The Marshes say the goal of the legislation is not to shut down camps or burden those already operating responsibly.
“We are not anti-camp,” Patrick Marsh said. “We want kids to go to camp and have these experiences. We just want them to be safe.”
They said many camps already meet the standards proposed in the bill, including comprehensive emergency plans and staff training. “It’s about making sure that last 10% gets on board.”
Nothing can bring their daughter back, they said. But they believe stronger oversight could save other families from the same loss.