Trending Now - Camp Mystic Official Overlooks Flood Warnings Before Storm
WHO:
CNN - Edward Eastland stated, “I wish we never had camp that summer,” during his testimony.
ABC News - Cici Steward, mother of 8-year-old Cile, expressed that the state should deny the camp’s license, stating, “It is so clear they are incapable of keeping children safe.”
CNN - Edward Eastland, director of Camp Mystic
CNN - Richard Eastland, co-owner of Camp Mystic
CNN - Cici Steward, mother of 8-year-old Cile, a victim
ABC News - Brad Beckworth, attorney representing families of victims
ABC News - Texas health regulators and Texas Rangers involved in investigations
WHAT:
CNN - Edward Eastland testified that he did not receive a National Weather Service flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. on July 4th, 2025, and slept through a CodeRED alert text at the same time.
ABC News - A signed statement from a counselor described the water rising faster than anything she had ever witnessed during the storm.
ABC News - The flooding killed at least 136 people along a several-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River, raising questions about the camp's safety measures.
CNN - Edward Eastland testified that he did not see flood watch social media posts by the National Weather Service and the Texas Department of Emergency Management on July 2nd and 3rd, 2025.
ABC News - A judge ordered the camp to preserve damaged areas as evidence in lawsuits filed by families of the victims, and camp operators have appealed this order.
ABC News - The camp has applied with state regulators to renew its license to open an elevated area that did not flood.
ABC News - Nearly 900 girls have registered to attend Camp Mystic in summer 2026.
CNN - Edward Eastland testified that the camp had no detailed written flood evacuation plan.
CNN - Edward Eastland stated that Richard Eastland made the call to evacuate cabins at approximately 3 a.m. on July 4th, 2025.
CNN - The flooding killed 25 campers, two teenage counselors, and Richard Eastland.
ABC News - A judge ordered the camp to preserve damaged areas as evidence in lawsuits filed by families of the victims.
ABC News - Texas health regulators are investigating hundreds of complaints filed against the camp owners.
ABC News - The Texas Rangers are assisting in the investigation into allegations of neglect against the camp.
CNN - Edward Eastland acknowledged that more campers would have survived if quicker decisions to evacuate had been made.
ABC News - A July 3rd National Weather Service alert warned of locally heavy rainfall that could cause flash flooding in rivers, creeks, streams, and low-lying areas.
CNN - 27 campers and counselors were killed in a flood at Camp Mystic in 2025.
CNN - Edward Eastland testified that he did not see flood warnings issued on July 2nd and 3rd, 2025.
ABC News - The camp plans to reopen in summer 2026, with nearly 900 girls registered to attend.
ABC News - The flooding killed at least 136 people along a stretch of the Guadalupe River.
WHERE:
CNN - Camp Mystic, located on the banks of the Guadalupe River, Texas.
WHEN:
CNN - The flood occurred on July 4th, 2025.
CNN - Edward Eastland went to bed around 11 p.m. on July 3rd, 2025.
ABC News - A National Weather Service flash flood warning was issued at 1:14 a.m. on July 4th, 2025.
WHY:
ABC News - Families of several of the girls who died have sued the camp’s operators, arguing that camp officials failed to take necessary steps to protect the campers as life-threatening floodwaters approached.
CNN - Edward Eastland stated that he believed the local “CodeRED” alert system and weather apps were sufficient for warnings.
ABC News - Families of victims argue that camp officials failed to take necessary steps to protect campers from the approaching floodwaters.
HOW:
ABC News - Edward Eastland acknowledged that staff did not use campus loudspeakers to alert campers and counselors to evacuate earlier in the storm.
CNN - Edward Eastland stated that he and other staff were signed up for an emergency warning system on their phones but did not see alerts.
ABC News - Edward Eastland acknowledged that staff did not hold meetings about the flood warnings on July 3rd, 2025.
CNN - Edward Eastland acknowledged that staff did not use campus loudspeakers to alert campers and counselors to evacuate earlier in the storm.
CNN - Edward Eastland testified that staff did not use campus loudspeakers to alert campers and counselors to evacuate earlier in the storm.
ABC News - Edward Eastland stated that he did not receive a National Weather Service flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. on July 4th, 2025, and slept through a CodeRED alert text at the same time.
CNN - Camp staff did not hold meetings about the flood warnings and did not use loudspeakers to alert campers.
ABC News - Edward Eastland testified that he and other staff were signed up for an emergency warning system but did not see the alerts.
(UPDATED April 15, 2026 04:00 UTC)
Edward Eastland testified that he did not receive a National Weather Service flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. July 4thth, 2025, and slept through a CodeRED alert text at the same time, while a counselor described the water rising faster than anything she had ever witnessed during the storm. The flooding along the Guadalupe River resulted in at least 136 fatalities, prompting families of several victims to sue the camp’s operators for allegedly failing to take necessary safety measures. Eastland also acknowledged that staff did not use campus loudspeakers to alert campers and counselors to evacuate earlier in the storm.
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(UPDATED April 15, 2026 01:23 UTC)
Edward Eastland testified that he did not see any flood watch social media posts from the National Weather Service or the Texas Department of Emergency Management July 2nd and 3rd, 2025, despite being signed up for an emergency warning system. A judge has ordered the camp to preserve damaged areas as evidence in lawsuits filed by families of the victims, and camp operators are currently appealing this order while also seeking to renew their license to open an elevated area that did not flood. Meanwhile, nearly 900 girls have registered to attend Camp Mystic in the summer of 2026.
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(UPDATED April 14, 2026 23:14 UTC)
Edward Eastland testified that the camp lacked a detailed written flood evacuation plan and admitted that staff failed to use loudspeakers to alert campers and counselors to evacuate during the storm. He revealed that Richard Eastland made the decision to evacuate cabins around 3 a.m. July 4thth, 2025, but tragically, the flooding resulted in the deaths of 25 campers, two teenage counselors, and Richard Eastland himself. In response to the disaster, a judge has ordered the camp to preserve damaged areas as evidence for lawsuits filed by victims' families, while Texas health regulators and the Texas Rangers are investigating numerous complaints and allegations of neglect against the camp owners.
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(UPDATED April 14, 2026 11:19 UTC)
During recent testimony, Edward Eastland expressed regret, saying, “I wish we never had camp that summer,” while acknowledging that more campers could have survived if quicker evacuation decisions had been made. Cici Steward, the mother of an eight-year-old camper, called for the state to deny the camp’s license, emphasizing that it was clear the camp was incapable of keeping children safe. Eastland also revealed that staff failed to use loudspeakers to alert campers and counselors during the storm and admitted he did not receive a crucial flash flood warning or a CodeRED alert text early July 4thth, 2025.
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(UPDATED April 14, 2026 05:42 UTC)
In a tragic incident at Camp Mystic July 4thth, 2025, a devastating flood claimed the lives of 27 campers and counselors, part of a larger disaster that resulted in at least 136 fatalities along the Guadalupe River. During recent testimony, camp director Edward Eastland stated he did not see any flood warnings issued prior to the disaster, despite being signed up for an emergency alert system. As the camp prepares to reopen this summer with nearly 900 girls registered, families of the victims continue to express concerns over the lack of adequate safety measures taken by camp officials during the crisis.