Camp Mystic Director Slept Through Deadly Texas Flood Warning
The director of Camp Mystic testified Monday that he did not see official flood warnings issued before the deadly July 4, 2025, storm. He said staff held no meetings about the imminent danger. Families of victims filled the courtroom as he described the night.
Testimony and timeline
Edward Eastland gave detailed testimony about the flood that struck the Guadalupe River. He said he went to bed about 11 p.m. and did not receive a National Weather Service flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m.
Eastland said he slept through a CodeRED alert text sent at the same time. His father, co-owner Richard Eastland, called on a walkie-talkie before 2 a.m. to warn of heavy rain.
The pair moved water equipment away from the riverbank. They did not evacuate cabins until about 3 a.m., Eastland said.
Warnings, alerts and planning
Camp staff were enrolled in emergency alert systems and used phone weather apps. Eastland said he did not see National Weather Service or state social posts on July 2 and 3.
A July 3 National Weather Service bulletin warned of locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding risks in rivers, creeks, and low-lying areas. Those features matched the camp property.
Eastland acknowledged the camp lacked a detailed written flood evacuation plan. He also said faster decisions by camp leaders could have saved lives.
How the flood unfolded
The storm hit overnight and waters rose to historic levels. Cabins were overtaken as floodwaters swept across the property.
Eastland described trying to hold onto children as water surged. He and a counsellor were eventually carried into a tree and clung to it as the current churned.
A counsellor’s signed statement introduced by lawyers described the water rising faster than anything she had seen. She wrote that it became too late to evacuate and she was swept away while trying to protect children.
Victims and wider toll
Twenty-seven people from Camp Mystic died in the flash flood. The victims included 25 girls aged eight to ten, two teenage female counsellors, and co-owner Richard Eastland.
One child, eight-year-old Cile, remains missing. Her mother, Cici Steward, urged regulators to deny the camp’s license renewal.
The broader flood along the Guadalupe River killed at least 136 people across a several-kilometre stretch.
Legal and regulatory fallout
The evidentiary hearing is part of civil lawsuits filed by victims’ families. The proceedings were expected to continue Tuesday.
Families have demanded preservation of the damaged site as evidence. Texas health regulators said they are investigating hundreds of complaints against the camp owners.
Camp Mystic has applied to renew its license and plans to open in two months in a higher area that did not flood last year. Camp operators reported nearly 900 girls have registered for the upcoming season.
The Camp Mystic director said he slept through the overnight warning about the deadly Texas flood. The testimony has intensified questions about preparedness and response.
Reporting for Filmogaz.com.
