Families sue Camp Mystic in Texas, alleging it ignored flood dangers that led to deaths
Families of victims who died during the July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas have filed a lawsuit accusing the camp’s operators of ignoring clear safety risks and failing to protect children and staff as deadly waters swept through the property. The lawsuit, filed Monday in state court in Austin, alleges that the camp prioritized property and profit over safety, leaving girls and counselors trapped in flood-prone cabins along the Guadalupe River. Plaintiffs say a groundskeeper was ordered to spend more than an hour securing equipment rather than helping to evacuate campers, while those in the most vulnerable cabins were told to remain inside despite rapidly rising water. The families of five campers and two counselors who died are seeking more than $1 million in damages.
The legal complaint also claims the camp violated state safety regulations by not having an evacuation plan and by instituting a policy that required campers to stay in their cabins during emergencies. Defendants include Camp Mystic, its related business entities, and members of the Eastland family, whose late patriarch, owner Richard Eastland, also died in the flooding. A separate lawsuit was filed by the family of camper Eloise Peck, who also perished. Camp Mystic’s attorney, Jeff Ray, expressed sympathy for the families but said the flood was an unprecedented natural disaster that exceeded historical records and occurred without sufficient warning systems in place.
The tragedy unfolded when the Guadalupe River surged from 14 to nearly 30 feet in under an hour, devastating the camp and leaving 27 people dead—25 campers and two teenage counselors. Overall, the catastrophic flooding across the region killed at least 136 people. In the aftermath, questions have mounted over whether warnings from the National Weather Service were missed and whether more could have been done to save lives. Families like that of Molly DeWitt, one of the victims, said the lawsuit is about seeking truth and accountability, hoping the case will prompt stronger safety measures and reforms. The disaster and subsequent testimonies from grieving parents before Texas lawmakers have already led to new state legislation aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future.
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