Camp Mystic faces a regulatory roadblock as it prepares to resume operations this May. Texas health officials have informed the Christian summer camp that it cannot reopen without fixing critical safety failures exposed by the catastrophic July 2025 flood that killed 27 people.
The camp has 45 days to address deficiencies including an inadequate emergency warning system, missing floodplain documentation, and a flawed fire evacuation plan, according to a state health services letter. Camp Mystic says it still intends to open on May 30 at a new location, separate from the Kerr County site where the disaster occurred.
That July 4 flood unleashed torrential rainfall that swelled the adjacent Guadalupe River, drowning 25 girls, two counselors, and camp owner Richard Eastland. The deluge killed over 130 people across the region.
Camp management has struggled to explain their preparedness failures. During testimony in a lawsuit brought by the family of victim Cecilia Steward, medical officer Mary Liz Eastland revealed she never reported the deaths to state regulators, a violation of Texas law requiring notification within 24 hours.
Edward Eastland, the camp director and son of the deceased owner, testified that he had not reviewed weather warnings before the storm, did not hold a staff meeting about potential flooding risks, and acknowledged the camp lacked a detailed written flood evacuation plan. He conceded that earlier action could have prevented deaths, though he argued camp officials could not have foreseen the storm's magnitude.
Families of nine victims filed a lawsuit in February against the state, claiming authorities failed to enforce proper evacuation procedures at the camp. The legal challenge underscores mounting pressure on state regulators to demonstrate they are serious about preventing future tragedies.
In a statement Friday, Camp Mystic emphasized its commitment to safety and its nearly century-old Christian mission for girls. The statement made no direct reference to the regulatory violations or the families' criticism of the decision to reopen.
Author James Rodriguez: "The camp had a written obligation to report deaths within 24 hours and didn't, then claimed it couldn't have predicted a storm that killed 130 people in the region, which strains credibility."
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