The medical officer at the Texas summer camp where 27 girls tragically lost their lives during a flood last year testified on Tuesday that she has yet to report these fatalities to the state health agency responsible for regulating camps, which is currently reviewing the camp’s application to reopen this summer.
Mary Liz Eastland, a member of the family that owns and operates Camp Mystic, faced questioning during a legal dispute involving camp operators and the families of the victims, who have filed lawsuits demanding that the camp preserve areas affected by the disaster as evidence. The proceedings over the past two days have shed light on the events surrounding the predawn flood on July 4 along the Guadalupe River, along with the delayed evacuation decisions that contributed to the tragedy.
The deaths of 25 campers and two teenage counselors at the all-girls Christian camp have been widely reported and are not disputed. However, Texas administrative regulations mandate that camps must report any deaths to state health authorities within a 24-hour timeframe.
“I did not think of this requirement in the moments happening after the flood,” Eastland stated, acknowledging that she also failed to do so prior to the camp’s application for reopening on March 31.
Eastland could not clearly recall when she learned of the campers’ deaths, indicating it could have been either a day or several days after the flood. Her father-in-law, Richard Eastland, was also among those killed.
When asked whether she should formally report the deaths now that the camp’s license is under review, Mary Liz Eastland responded, “I guess so.”
It remains uncertain how the oversight in reporting might impact the camp’s licensing application. The camp’s application includes lists of its officers and flood plain maps, while a detailed safety plan required from operators is not available for public scrutiny.
State regulators are scheduled to visit the camp as part of the license review process. Additionally, the agency is examining hundreds of complaints filed against the camp and has enlisted the Texas Rangers investigative unit for assistance. A separate investigation into the flood is also being conducted by state lawmakers.
“The DSHS will consider any findings from the inspection and investigation when determining the renewal application,” the agency stated on Tuesday.
The plan to reopen part of the camp this summer and accommodate nearly 900 girls has provoked outrage among the families of the deceased. The family of 8-year-old Cile Steward, the only camper still unaccounted for, initiated the lawsuit that led to the current hearing.
The Steward family has asserted that the camp should not be permitted to reopen under the ongoing leadership of the Eastland family. In a separate statement, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick emphasized that no license should be granted until all investigations are concluded.
Mary Liz Eastland’s testimony followed that of her husband, Edward Eastland, who spent hours under questioning regarding missed weather warnings, the delayed evacuation decision, and the frantic attempts to save campers as floodwaters surged through the camp with enough force to create dangerous rapids.
He emotionally recounted the experience of rescuing two girls, along with another who jumped onto his back, all of whom were ultimately swept away.
“A genuine hero testified today,” remarked Mikal Watts, one of the attorneys representing the Eastlands. “He shared a harrowing account of saving lives during an unprecedented disaster. I am honored to represent Edward Eastland and his family.”
Mary Liz Eastland detailed her actions that night as she and her children left their home to join her mother-in-law. She described the water flooding their house and breaking a window for escape, eventually reaching higher ground.
Upon daybreak, she recounted her shock at seeing girls stranded in trees and the efforts made by staff to gather survivors for a headcount, verifying names against cabin rosters.
“I had to figure out who we had and didn’t have at that point,” she explained.
However, she also admitted that she did not attempt to reach the low-lying areas to evacuate campers during the initial moments of the storm, stating that the rising floodwaters made it impossible to pass. Furthermore, she faced scrutiny regarding her inaction as the camp’s chief medical officer, being asked why she did not alert other medical staff to assist the campers before the crisis escalated.
Christina Yarnell, an attorney representing the Steward family, pointed out that Eastland had been associated with 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 asserted. “Your children knew them. These were first-year campers. … Cile needed your help, and you abandoned her, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Eastland replied.
