Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, on Tuesday passed a bill in the House that would require all youth camps to conduct a sitespecific hazard assessment prior to licensure or renewal and to develop an emergency action plan.
The plan specified in House Bill 1675 must include response protocols for each severe weather hazard applicable to the site, evacuation routes and other items outlined in the measure.
'We all watched in horror last year as a catastrophic flood took the lives of 25 young campers, two counselors and a director at a camp in Texas,' Cantrell said. 'In Oklahoma, we're all too aware of the threat of severe weather. Camp should be about making memories, having fun, enjoying some of the best days of your life. By having these site-specific emergency plans in place ahead of licensing, we give parents and all involved more peace of mind that campers will be taken care of in the event of severe weather. We all want camp to be the enjoyable and safe experience it's designed to be.'
