Camp Mystic official says he didn't see flood warnings before deadly storm

Testimony reveals missed alerts and delayed evacuation at Texas summer camp where 27 were killed

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:35am

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A sweeping landscape painting in muted tones, with a raging river dominating the frame and obscuring any visible structures or human figures, conveying the overwhelming power of the natural disaster.The devastating flood at Camp Mystic exposed the camp's lack of preparedness for extreme weather events, with tragic consequences.Austin Today

The director of the Texas summer camp where 27 campers and counselors were killed by a devastating flood in 2025 testified that he did not see official warnings issued the day before the storm hit, that staff had no meetings about the pending danger, and that they did not make the call to evacuate until it was too late.

Why it matters

This tragic incident has raised serious questions about Camp Mystic's preparedness and emergency response protocols, as well as the broader issue of how summer camps can better protect young campers from extreme weather events.

The details

Edward Eastland, the camp director, acknowledged that lives could have been saved if staff had acted sooner, but insisted they could not have anticipated the severity of the storm. He said the camp had no detailed written flood evacuation plan, and that they did not use simple measures like campus loudspeakers to warn campers and counselors to evacuate their cabins earlier in the storm.

  • On July 2 and 3, the National Weather Service and Texas Department of Emergency Management issued flood watch social media posts that Eastland said he did not see.
  • At 1:14 a.m. on July 4, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning that Eastland said he slept through.
  • Around 2 a.m. on July 4, Eastland's father called him about hard rain and the need to move equipment, but they did not evacuate cabins at that point.
  • Around 3 a.m. on July 4, Eastland's father made the call to evacuate the cabins, but by then it was too late.

The players

Edward Eastland

The director of Camp Mystic, where the deadly flood occurred in 2025.

Richard Eastland

The co-owner of Camp Mystic and Edward Eastland's father, who made the call to evacuate the cabins around 3 a.m. on July 4 but was killed when his vehicle was swept away.

Cici Steward

The mother of 8-year-old Cile Steward, the only Camp Mystic victim still missing.

Brad Beckworth

An attorney representing the Steward family.

Mikal Watts

The attorney for Edward Eastland.

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What they’re saying

“'It is so clear they are incapable of keeping children safe.'”

— Cici Steward, Mother of missing Camp Mystic victim

“'You were warned.'”

— Brad Beckworth, Attorney representing Steward family

“'The water was rising faster than anything I have ever witnessed.'”

— Anonymous counselor

“'The water was over my head very quickly. The water was churning.'”

— Edward Eastland, Camp Mystic director

“'I wish we never had camp that summer.'”

— Edward Eastland, Camp Mystic director

What’s next

The hearing is scheduled to continue on Tuesday, where more details about the camp's emergency preparedness and response are expected to be revealed. The Texas Rangers are also investigating allegations of neglect at the camp.

The takeaway

This tragic incident has exposed significant gaps in Camp Mystic's emergency planning and communication protocols, raising urgent questions about the safety standards at summer camps across the state and the need for stronger regulations to protect young campers from extreme weather events.