During a state legislative hearing, Texas lawmakers criticized Camp Mystic operators for their handling of the deadly July 4, 2025 flood that killed 25 campers and two counselors. The directors apologized but faced intense scrutiny over their evacuation plan and lack of emergency training for counselors.
Key Takeaways
Texas lawmakers criticized Camp Mystic operators during a legislative hearing over their handling of a deadly July 4 flood that killed 27 people. The directors apologized but faced scrutiny over evacuation plans and lack of emergency training. Families pleaded against reopening, while investigators revealed major deficiencies in the camp's emergency preparedness.
Republican State Sen. Charles Perry was blunt in his criticism, telling the Eastland family they should not be allowed to operate their camp this summer. 'Y'all are not ready to handle kids,' he said. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has also expressed opposition to the camp reopening. The directors acknowledged their failures but stated they have no plans to reopen along the Guadalupe River this summer.
The hearing revealed that Camp Mystic's evacuation plan instructed campers to stay in their cabins until notified by the office, despite FEMA updating its floodplain maps to include the camp's cabins. Republican State Rep. Morgan Meyer objected to this plan, stating that proper evacuation would have prevented losses. The state has identified 22 deficiencies in the camp's application to reopen.
Families of the victims pleaded with lawmakers not to allow the operators to reopen this summer. It was also revealed that Camp Mystic's directors had not officially reported the deaths of their campers and counselors to the state. Last year, state lawmakers passed legislation requiring various safety measures at summer camps, and additional legislation is likely to be considered in the next session.
Camp director Edward Eastland offered a tearful apology during the hearing, stating 'We tried our hardest that night. It wasn't enough to save your daughters.' He recounted his desperate attempts to rescue campers as the Guadalupe River flooded. Investigators testified that there were no evacuation drills or proper emergency equipment at the camp, with counselors instructed to shelter in place rather than evacuate.
Despite the criticism, Britt Eastland stated the camp plans to implement improved training and safety measures if allowed to reopen. However, survivors like Julie Sprunt Marshall expressed concern that reopening would put children at risk, describing it as 'an incredibly dangerous experiment on children.' The family indicated they would appeal if their license is not renewed.
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