Camp Mystic Guard Says Earlier Evacuation Could Have Saved More Lives

Testimony reveals lack of emergency planning and communication during deadly flood

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:40am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a broken walkie-talkie or megaphone against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the lack of emergency preparedness and failed rescue efforts at Camp Mystic.The failure of emergency communication systems at Camp Mystic exposed critical gaps in the camp's disaster response protocols.Austin Today

Glenn Juenke, a security guard at Texas' Camp Mystic during last year's deadly flood, testified that if a general evacuation order had been issued earlier, more lives could have been saved. Juenke helped move girls to a two-story building and saved a group of campers by telling them to run to higher ground, but acknowledged that better emergency communication and planning could have led to more successful rescues.

Why it matters

The Camp Mystic tragedy has sparked a legal battle between the camp operators, who want to reopen the all-girls Christian camp this summer, and families of some of the victims who died in the July 4th flood. Juenke's testimony sheds light on the lack of emergency preparedness and communication at the camp, raising questions about the camp's safety protocols and the potential for similar disasters in the future.

The details

Juenke, who was called as a witness for the camp operators, said it was his own decision to tell campers to scramble on foot up a hillside as floodwaters rose, not an order from camp directors or authorities. He also said he did not recall camp operators ever training the campers, counselors and staff on where to go in case an emergency evacuation was needed. Under cross-examination, Juenke acknowledged that more children could have been saved if someone had used a functioning loudspeaker or walkie-talkie radio to call for more able-bodied adults to direct campers to safer buildings.

  • The deadly flood occurred in the predawn hours of July 4th last year.
  • A three-day court hearing in Austin took place recently to address the legal battle between the camp operators and victims' families.

The players

Glenn Juenke

A security guard at Texas' Camp Mystic the night of the deadly flood, who helped move girls to a two-story building and saved a group of campers by telling them to run to higher ground.

Edward Eastland

The camp director at Camp Mystic, whom Juenke initially defended in his testimony.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If a general evacuation order had been issued early in the storm, lives could have been saved.”

— Glenn Juenke, Security Guard

“More children could have been saved if someone had used a functioning loudspeaker or walkie-talkie radio to call for more able-bodied adults to direct campers to safer buildings.”

— Glenn Juenke, Security Guard

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether the camp operators can reopen Camp Mystic this summer, based on the evidence and testimony presented during the three-day hearing.

The takeaway

This tragedy highlights the critical importance of comprehensive emergency planning and communication protocols at summer camps and other facilities that host large groups, especially in areas prone to natural disasters. The lack of preparedness at Camp Mystic likely contributed to the high loss of life, and serves as a sobering lesson for camp operators nationwide.