Camp Mystic Official Admits Failure to Report 27 Flood Deaths to Texas Health Regulators
In a startling revelation during a legal hearing this week, the medical officer for Camp Mystic testified that she has still not officially reported the deaths of 27 individuals from last year's catastrophic flood to the Texas state health agency that regulates summer camps. Mary Liz Eastland, a member of the family that owns and operates the all-girls Christian camp, made this admission under questioning in a contentious legal battle between camp operators and the families of victims.
Deaths Remain Unreported Despite State Requirement
The Texas administrative code explicitly requires camps to report any deaths to state health regulators within 24 hours of occurrence. However, Eastland acknowledged that she "did not think of this requirement in the moments happening after the flood" and had not submitted the required report even as the camp filed its application to reopen on March 31.
"I guess so," Eastland responded when pressed about whether she should formally report the deaths now with the camp's license application pending. The failure to comply with this mandatory reporting requirement raises serious questions about regulatory oversight and camp management protocols.
Detailed Testimony Reveals Chaotic Flood Response
The hearing over the past two days has produced the most extensive details yet from camp operators about what transpired during the July 4 predawn flood on the Guadalupe River. Testimony revealed delayed evacuation decisions that proved fatal, with 25 campers and two teenage counselors perishing in the rushing waters.
Eastland could not recall exactly when she learned campers had died, suggesting it might have been "a day, or several days, after the flood." Her father-in-law, Richard Eastland, also lost his life in the disaster.
Camp Seeks Reopening Amid Multiple Investigations
Camp Mystic's plan to reopen part of the campus this summer and host nearly 900 girls has sparked outrage among families of the victims. The camp's application includes lists of camp officers and flood plain maps, and operators are required to submit a detailed safety plan that remains shielded from public view.
State regulators will visit the camp during the license review process, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) stated it is reviewing hundreds of complaints filed against the camp. The agency has invited the Texas Rangers investigative unit to assist, while state lawmakers are conducting a separate investigation of the flood.
"DSHS will consider any findings from the inspection and investigation when making the determination on the renewal application," the agency said in a statement.
Emotional Testimony from Camp Leadership
Mary Liz Eastland's testimony followed her husband Edward Eastland's hours under questioning about missed weather warnings, delayed evacuation decisions, and desperate attempts to save children as water ripped through the camp with enough force to create rapids around cabins. He tearfully described grabbing two girls and another who jumped on his back before they were all washed away.
"A genuine hero testified today," said Mikal Watts, one of the attorneys for the Eastlands. "He told a gripping story of saving lives in an unprecedented tsunami. I am proud to represent Edward Eastland and his family."
Questionable Decisions Under Scrutiny
Mary Liz Eastland recounted her own actions that night, describing water pouring into her house and breaking a window to escape with her children to join her mother-in-law on higher ground. At sunrise, she went toward the river bank and saw "girls in trees," then helped gather survivors for a head count using cabin rosters.
However, she acknowledged never attempting to reach low-lying areas to evacuate campers during the storm's early moments, claiming she could not pass through the rising floodwaters. She also faced questioning about why, as the camp's chief medical officer, she didn't try to call or alert other medical staff to reach campers before disaster struck.
Legal Battle Intensifies
The family of 8-year-old Cile Steward, the only camper still missing, filed the lawsuit that prompted this week's hearing. Attorney Christina Yarnell noted that Eastland had been at Camp Mystic as a camper, counselor or staff member since 2002.
"You knew the property. You knew the flood lines. You knew access points," Yarnell challenged. "Your children knew them. These were first-year campers … Cile needed your help and you abandoned her, didn't you?"
"Yes," Eastland responded.
The Steward family has argued that the camp should not be allowed to reopen under the continued leadership of the Eastland family. Separately, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has stated that no license should be issued until all investigations are complete, adding political pressure to the already complex legal and regulatory situation.
