Texas Lawmakers Challenge Camp Mystic Reopening After Unreported Flood Deaths

A Startling Admission in Austin (Image Credits: Pexels)

Austin, Texas — Texas lawmakers expressed deep skepticism about Camp Mystic’s plans to resume operations this summer following testimony that the camp’s chief medical officer had failed to report 27 deaths from last year’s deadly flood, even nearly 10 months later.[1][2] The revelation emerged during a joint legislative hearing, intensifying scrutiny on the camp’s license renewal application amid lingering questions about safety and accountability. As the state health department reviews the bid, the lapse has amplified calls to bar the Eastland family, longtime operators, from continuing.

A Startling Admission in Austin

The joint House and Senate committee heard directly from Mary Liz Eastland, Camp Mystic’s director and chief medical officer, who confirmed she had not notified the Texas Department of State Health Services of the fatalities.[1] State law requires camps to report deaths within 24 hours under the Texas Administrative Code, yet Eastland testified that the camp as a whole had not complied.[3]

"No ma’am, I have not," Eastland responded when Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, pressed her on the matter.[1] She attributed the delay to shared responsibility and the chaos following the disaster, noting that "everyone knows at this point." Kolkhorst challenged the inaction nearly 10 months on, urging focus on post-disaster protocols amid reports describing the aftermath as "mayhem."

Legislators Demand Accountability

Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, who chaired the Senate committee, set a stark tone by declaring, "This tragedy could have been prevented."[2] Investigators Casey Garrett and Judge Michael Massengale detailed how inadequate preparation contributed to the outcome, including a one-page emergency plan lacking specific evacuation procedures and untrained staff.

Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, questioned the deterrent effect of allowing the operators to persist. "If y’all are left as an operator in any form or fashion, what deterrent does that send to another operator that I can have kids die on my watch and still be an operator?" he asked.[1][2] Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick echoed opposition to renewal, while Edward Eastland, speaking for the family, offered apologies without excuses, acknowledging they "didn’t do enough."

The Flood That Shook the Hill Country

On July 4, 2025, flash floods overwhelmed Camp Mystic’s Guadalupe River site in the Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio, claiming 25 young campers and two counselors.[2] A National Weather Service flash flood warning arrived at 1:14 a.m., but camp leaders delayed full evacuation, opting for vehicles rather than cabin checks that investigators said could have saved lives.

The private Christian girls’ camp, run by the Eastland family since 1939 across 720 acres, had undergone a state inspection two days prior. Yet the emergency plan proved insufficient on its face, with counselors — many teenagers — lacking assigned roles or drills for such scenarios. Edward Eastland defended decisions based on historical flood knowledge but conceded their concept of high ground had changed forever.

Reopening Plans Under Fire

The camp now seeks to revive its uphill Cypress Lake site for a six-week session starting late May, hosting 850 to 900 girls after hundreds of families reportedly urged them to proceed for "healing."[1] The Department of State Health Services flagged 22 deficiencies in the March application, including flash flood evacuation shortcomings.[4]

Operators insist the issues are addressed or forthcoming and plan to appeal any denial. Families of victims, however, have filed suits, and lawmakers like Kolkhorst highlighted parallels to day cares losing licenses after single incidents. The Eastlands offered to step back if it ensured the camp’s continuity under new management.

As the licensing decision looms, the hearings underscore a broader push for rigorous oversight in youth camps vulnerable to Texas’s unpredictable weather. Whether Camp Mystic reopens — and under whose watch — will test the balance between tradition, healing, and unyielding safety standards.