Camp Mystic flood deaths were preventable, Texas investigators say

• A tragic flood at Camp Mystic in central Texas resulted in the deaths of 27 young girls.
• Investigators found the camp had an emergency plan but lacked an adequate evacuation protocol.
• The camp owners, the Eastland family, apologized to the victims' families during a legislative hearing.
• Lawmakers suggested the Eastland family should no longer operate the camp following the tragedy.

Texas lawmakers sat through two long days full of tears, heartbreak and hard truths as they continue their investigation into the tragic events at a central Texas camp where flood waters claimed 27 young girls' lives.

Both members of the Texas House and Senate investigation committees heard from their investigators, who documented in great detail the tragedy that occurred at Camp Mystic the night of July 4, 2025, questioned the camp owners and heard from families.

When opening the joint hearing in Austin, the chairman of the Senate committee, State Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, said something that would later set the tone for the two days.

“This tragedy could have been prevented,” Flores said.

Here are the top four takeaways from the two-day event and what you need to know.

What, where is Camp Mystic?

Camp Mystic is a private Christian summer camp for girls located in the Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio.

It sits on 720 acres of land, with two campuses, and has been owned by the Eastland family since 1939.

Camp Mystic had emergency plan, but inadequate evacuation protocols

The lawmakers appointed Casey Garrett and Judge Michael Massengale to investigate what happened the night of July 4, 2025, at Camp Mystic and the years that led up to the event that resulted in flood waters claiming 27 of the campers' lives.

Garrett told lawmakers that last summer, the camp, as required by state law, posted a one-page emergency plan and protocols for a disaster, serious accident, sickness or fatality.However, Garrett noted it didn’t have an evacuation plan.

Two days before the floods, an agent from the Texas Department of State Health Services conducted a camp inspection — which Edward Eastland said took hours — and reviewed the camp safety plan.

Garrett said it wasn’t the agent’s job to judge the “efficacy” of the plan and that it was someone else's job in the department to do so.

“Did they look at that one-page sheet and determine that it was insufficient?” Garrett questioned. “Because it was on its face insufficient.”

"I have no excuses": Eastlands apologize, acknowledge failure

The Eastland family was called before lawmakers to explain their decisions that night and the months that followed — including an application to reopen part of the camp that was separate from the portion affected by the deadly floods.

On behalf of the Eastland family, Edward Eastland offered his family's apologies to the children's families.

“I think about the night of the flood every moment of every day,” Eastland said emotionally. We tried our hardest that night and it wasn’t enough to save your daughters.”

He went on saying that talking about the pain the Eastland family has experienced in losing their father that night, too, pales in comparison to what the families feel.

During their testimony, the family acknowledged that they had failed the families and had regrets not evacuating the girls sooner.

“The world was a better place with them in it,” Edward Eastland said, “The anger at us for not being able to keep them safe feels completely reasonable. I have no excuses.” 

Investigators revealed there was time to save everyone at Camp Mystic

During the hearings, investigators revealed a detailed timeline of events that night, highlighting a key aspect.

At 1:14 a.m. on July 4, 2025 the National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood warning for the area.

Two hours later, Michael Massengale said camp leaders were loading campers into vehicles to take to higher ground — they missed their last opportunity to save every camper.

“They had the opportunity to save every camper had they made the decision to instead go cabin to cabin to tell the girls to move to higher ground,” Massengale explained.

He said the mistake, along with other mistakes that night, could have been avoided if the camp had provided staff with a written evacuation plan, had assigned them roles and trained them for it.

Lawmakers hint that the Eastlands should not operate Camp Mystic anymore

State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, was among several lawmakers throughout the course of the hearings who said he doesn’t think the Eastlands should continue to operate Camp Mystic.

“If (they family) 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,” Perry said.

He further stated that he thinks the camp can continue to operate, just not by the Eastlands.

Mary Liz Eastland, wife of Edward Eastland and co-director of Camp Mystic, said the family would be willing to “step back and take a pause” if it meant the camp could continue to operate. 

Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, joined Perry’s sentiments that the Eastlands should not operate the camp, but doubled down on the fact that the camp still has not reported the children’s deaths as required by state law.

On top of that, DSHS has not yet granted the camp its license to operate this year, citing 22 issues with the application.

“It’s April 28, you have 22 deficiencies. You haven’t reported the 27 deaths as required by law,” Kolkhorst said. “In light of everything I’ve just pointed out, do you really think you’re ready to take on 500 children?”

Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him: [email protected].