Austin, Texas — A director of Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian summer camp devastated by a deadly 2025 flood, delivered a tearful apology to victims’ families during a tense legislative hearing Tuesday, as state lawmakers scrutinized the camp’s safety failures and debated whether it should be allowed to reopen this summer.
The emotional testimony came as families of 27 victims — including 25 campers and two counselors — sat just feet away during the second day of hearings examining the catastrophic July 4 flood along the Guadalupe River.
Emotional Apology From Camp Leadership
Edward Eastland, a member of the family that owns the century-old camp, apologized directly to grieving families for the loss of life during the disaster.
“We tried our hardest that night. It wasn’t enough to save your daughters,” Eastland said, visibly emotional. “I’m so sorry.”
He and his father, Richard Eastland, were both present at the camp during the flooding. Richard Eastland died in the disaster, while Edward survived after being swept into a tree during the fast-rising waters.
Eastland acknowledged the pain and anger of families, saying it was understandable given the scale of the tragedy.
Lawmakers Challenge Safety Preparedness
Texas lawmakers used the hearing to question camp leadership about what they described as serious failures in emergency planning and evacuation procedures.
Officials pointed to a lack of flood-specific training for staff prior to the disaster, arguing it contributed to delays in evacuating campers as water levels rose rapidly.
Sen. Charles Perry criticized the camp’s preparedness, saying emergency procedures should have been in place long before the tragedy occurred.
Lawmakers also questioned why staff did not use the camp’s public address system to issue an immediate evacuation order during the crisis.
Edward Eastland responded that his focus at the time was on attempting direct rescues and that he did not consider returning to the office to issue a broader alert.
Promises of Safety Overhaul
In response to the criticism, Camp Mystic leadership said they are implementing significant changes to prevent future tragedies.
Britt Eastland, another director, told lawmakers the camp plans to introduce comprehensive emergency training, including drills for floods, fires, tornadoes, and security threats.
Legislative investigators noted that the absence of such training prior to last year’s disaster was a key failure.
Debate Over Camp’s Reopening
Despite the tragedy, Camp Mystic’s owners are seeking to reopen in late May, with plans to operate only in areas of the property that were not affected by flooding. The camp expects to host nearly 900 attendees this summer.
The proposal has drawn strong opposition from victims’ families and some state officials, who have called for regulators to delay or deny the camp’s operating license.
Lawmakers stressed that the camp’s certification is still under review and highlighted 22 deficiencies identified by state regulators in its emergency preparedness plan.
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst questioned whether the camp was fit to host hundreds of children again, citing the scale of the previous disaster and the loss of life.
“The license is a privilege,” Kolkhorst said during the hearing.
Families React to Reopening Plans
Tensions escalated during the session as camp officials insisted they were prepared to operate safely, while some lawmakers and family members expressed disbelief.
When Britt Eastland stated the camp was ready to reopen, several attendees reacted emotionally, with some family members leaving the room.
Victims’ families have argued that reopening the camp so soon after the tragedy shows a lack of accountability and sensitivity to their loss.
Investigation and Licensing Review Ongoing
State regulators continue to review Camp Mystic’s licensing application, meaning the camp could technically reopen while the decision is pending. However, officials retain the authority to revoke or deny approval if safety standards are not met.
Camp leadership said they would not proceed without a valid license but indicated they may appeal any denial.
A Community Still Recovering
The Guadalupe River flood remains one of the deadliest camp-related disasters in Texas history, leaving lasting trauma for families, staff, and the surrounding community.
As hearings continue, lawmakers are expected to release a full report later this year outlining findings and potential policy changes aimed at improving emergency preparedness at youth camps across the state.
