Austin parents sue Camp Mystic over deadly July 4 flood

Lawsuit alleges camp failed to have evacuation plan and ignored weather warnings before tragedy

Feb. 6, 2026 at 5:31pm

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The parents of an 8-year-old Austin girl who was swept away and killed in the deadly July 4 flood at Camp Mystic have filed a lawsuit against the camp's owners and management. The lawsuit alleges the camp failed to have an evacuation plan required by state law and ignored weather warnings from emergency officials before the Guadalupe River rose to historic levels, resulting in the deaths of 27 campers and counselors.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights the importance of proper emergency planning and preparedness at summer camps, especially those located in areas prone to flooding. The tragic loss of life has devastated the Austin community and raised questions about the camp's safety protocols and whether the owners could have taken steps to prevent the catastrophic outcome.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the camp's owners, the Eastland family, failed to adopt an emergency evacuation plan or install proper warning infrastructure despite the camp's history of flooding. The plan they did have consisted of a seven-sentence paragraph instructing campers and counselors to shelter in place, which proved to be a "death sentence" when the flood hit. The lawsuit alleges the owners received weather warnings two days before the flood but ignored them, only deciding to evacuate the five cabins closest to the river at 3 a.m. on the night of the incident - but Cile's cabin was not one of them.

  • On July 2 and July 3, the Eastlands received weather warnings about the impending flood.
  • At 1:14 a.m. on July 4, a flash flood warning for Kerr County was issued, but the Eastlands ignored it.
  • Around 3 a.m. on July 4, the Eastlands decided to evacuate the five cabins closest to the river, but Cile's cabin was not one of them.

The players

Will and Cici Steward

The parents of 8-year-old Cile Steward, who was killed in the Camp Mystic flood.

Mikal Watts

An attorney for the owners of Camp Mystic, the Eastland family.

Dick Eastland

One of the owners of Camp Mystic who died while trying to evacuate campers.

Edward Eastland

One of the owners of Camp Mystic who was involved in the decision-making during the flood.

Cile Steward

An 8-year-old Austin girl who was killed in the Camp Mystic flood.

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What they’re saying

“Cile was taken from us seven months ago and while we recognize this lawsuit will not bring her back, we feel compelled to ensure the truth of Camp Mystic's failures are exposed.”

— Will and Cici Steward, Parents of Cile Steward (statesman.com)

“Because of the Eastland family, Cile was left with an impossible choice: drown in her cabin or fight violent floodwaters in the dark in a blind effort of escape and survive. My baby was a fighter. She was a strong swimmer and a great climber. Cile did not die because there was nowhere to go. She died because she was told not to go.”

— Will and Cici Steward, Parents of Cile Steward (statesman.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to grant a temporary restraining order to stop the camp from reopening until investigations have ended.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the critical importance of summer camps having robust emergency preparedness plans, including clear evacuation procedures, reliable communication systems, and the ability to heed weather warnings. Camps must prioritize the safety of campers and staff to prevent such devastating outcomes in the future.