The director of Camp Mystic testified Monday that he did not see official flood warnings issued in the days leading up to the catastrophic 2025 storm that killed 27 campers and counselors along the Guadalupe River in Texas, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Edward Eastland provided detailed testimony during a court hearing attended by families of the victims, describing how camp staff responded as rising floodwaters overwhelmed the property in the early hours of July Fourth.
The hearing is part of an ongoing legal dispute between camp owners and families who have filed multiple lawsuits following the disaster.
The director of Camp Mystic testified Monday he did not see warnings issued the day before the storm hit, that the staff had no meetings about the pending danger and the staff did not make the call to evacuate until it was too late. Over several hours of sometimes emotional… pic.twitter.com/1YmzAMQVUu [2]
— Robbie Mouton (@mcgmouton57) April 14, 2026 [3]
Eastland told the court that he and staff were subscribed to emergency alert systems on their phones and relied on weather applications, but did not see social media warnings posted by the National Weather Service and the Texas Department of Emergency Management on July 2 and July 3.
He said he believed the local “CodeRED” alert system and weather apps “was enough.”
A July 3 alert from the National Weather Service warned that heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding in rivers, creeks, streams, and low-lying areas — conditions that applied directly to the Camp Mystic grounds [4].
Eastland testified that his father typically monitored weather conditions and that staff did not hold a meeting about the alerts issued that day.
The storm struck overnight, resulting in the deaths of 25 campers, two teenage counselors, and Richard Eastland, who had attempted to evacuate campers in a large SUV before it was swept away by floodwaters.
“We did not expect what was going to happen,” Eastland said.
“You were warned,” responded Brad Beckworth, an attorney representing one of the victim’s families.
Eastland also testified that camp loudspeakers were not used to issue any weather warnings to campers the night of July 3.
The court heard audio of “Taps” being played around 10 p.m. as campers went to bed. Eastland said he went to sleep around 11 p.m. and did not receive a National Weather Service flash flood warning issued at 1:14 a.m.
He also said he slept through a CodeRED alert text sent at the same time, warning of a prolonged flood event.
According to his testimony, his father contacted him by walkie-talkie shortly before 2 a.m. to report heavy rain and to discuss moving equipment away from the river. Eastland said no decision was made at that time to evacuate cabins.
“It was not reasonable to do that at that time,” Eastland said. “The water wasn’t out of the Guadalupe River. It was pouring down rain and lightning, and the cabins were safe at that time.”
The evacuation order was not given until about 3 a.m., according to Eastland’s testimony.
Attorneys for the families presented a statement from a counselor who described the conditions as the water rapidly rose. “The water was rising faster than anything I have ever witnessed,” the counselor wrote.
The counselor said Eastland later approached the cabin in knee-deep water and told her it was too late to leave and that they should remain inside.
Eastland also described attempting to hold onto multiple campers as the floodwaters intensified. “The water was over my head very quickly. The water was churning,” he said.
The family of the only victim still missing from the deadly Camp Mystic floods in Texas, where 27 campers and counselors died last year, is fighting to have the camp shut down permanently. pic.twitter.com/8WbSmhongv [5]
— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) April 14, 2026 [6]
The flooding ultimately killed at least 136 people along the Guadalupe River, according to figures presented during the hearing.
The case has prompted scrutiny from state authorities.
Texas health regulators said they are investigating hundreds of complaints filed against the camp, while the Texas Rangers are assisting in a separate investigation into potential neglect.
The hearing is expected to continue on Tuesday.