Camp Mystic Guard Testifies Early Evacuation Could Have Saved Lives
The security guard on duty during the catastrophic Camp Mystic flood last year has given crucial testimony, stating that issuing a general evacuation order early in the storm could have prevented the tragic loss of lives. Glenn Juenke, who was present at the all-girls Christian camp on the night of the July 4th disaster, made these remarks during a three-day legal hearing that concluded recently.
Missed Opportunities and Delayed Decisions
Juenke detailed how he helped move some girls to a two-story building before becoming trapped himself in a cabin as floodwaters from the Guadalupe River surged through the camp in the predawn hours. He emphasised that there was no formal evacuation plan in place, and camp operators had not provided training for campers, counselors, or staff on emergency procedures. A short emergency notice posted in the cabins, which had passed state inspection just two days earlier, instructed campers to remain in their cabins until staff gave further instructions—a directive that proved fatal.
"If anyone had used the speakers or walkie talkie and told them to leave before 3 am, they would’ve survived," said Brad Beckworth, an attorney representing the family of Cile Steward, an 8-year-old camper whose body has not been recovered. In total, 25 campers and two teenage counselors lost their lives, along with camp co-owner Dick Eastland.
Chaotic Night of Heroism and Survival
Juenke described a night of chaos and desperation. Initially, he joined camp directors Dick and Edward Eastland in driving girls away from their cabins, but he abandoned his truck when water levels became too high. On foot, he ordered a group of young girls to run to higher ground, a decision he made independently without orders from camp directors or authorities. He then returned to another cabin, where he was trapped in waist-deep water with storage trunks being tossed around by the current.
In a harrowing account, Juenke recounted how he instructed the girls in that cabin to get on air mattresses, where they floated for several hours, enduring bites from fire ants and spiders. "It was a long night. We were getting bitten by fire ants. There were spiders ... The girls did everything I told them to do," he testified. None of the girls in that cabin died, highlighting his quick thinking amidst the crisis.
Legal Battle and Camp's Future
The hearing has brought to light extensive details from camp operators about the flood, including missed chances to prepare and delayed evacuation decisions. Lawyers for the victims' families have focused on the lack of a detailed evacuation plan and the failure to issue timely orders to leave the cabins. The camp's plan to reopen this summer has angered the families, and its license remains under review by state health regulators. A judge recently ordered the camp to preserve damaged areas as evidence for pending lawsuits, a ruling currently under appeal.
Juenke defended the actions of the staff that night, stating, "We did everything we could do in the time that we had." However, his testimony underscores the critical need for improved emergency protocols and timely decision-making in such disasters.
