AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The medical officer for Texas' Camp Mystic, where a devastating flood claimed 27 lives last year, testified Tuesday that she has yet to report these fatalities to the state health authority responsible for regulating camps. This revelation comes amid ongoing lawsuits from families of the victims seeking to preserve damaged areas for evidence as the camp seeks permission to reopen.
Mary Liz Eastland, part of the camp's operating family, faced intense questioning regarding the emergency response to the July 4 flood on the Guadalupe River, highlighting delayed evacuation decisions that contributed to the tragedy. While the confirmed deaths of 25 campers and two counselors are acknowledged, Texas law necessitates reporting such tragedies to the health agency within 24 hours.
During the hearing, Eastland expressed a lack of awareness regarding the legal requirement to report the deaths in the chaotic aftermath of the flood. I did not think of this requirement in the moments happening after the flood, she admitted. Further, when asked about the impact of the missing report on the camp's application for reopening, she indicated that formal notification would be appropriate.
Both family members and state officials have raised concerns about the camp's readiness to safely host nearly 900 attendees this summer. The family of 8-year-old Cile Steward, still unaccounted for, has initiated legal action against the camp, demanding accountability and cautioning against reopening under the Eastland family's oversight.
Mary Liz Eastland's testimony followed that of her husband, Edward Eastland, who shared his frantic attempts to save children as floodwaters engulfed the camp, describing heart-wrenching scenes of survival. The couple's extensive involvement at Camp Mystic since 2002 has created a significant backlash, with families stating that they knew the landscape and flood risks better than those less familiar with the camp's operations.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has stated they will consider findings from ongoing investigations when evaluating the camp's renewal application. This situation, including the scrutiny surrounding the camp's safety plan and prior complaints, paints a complex picture of accountability amid grief and frustration from those who lost loved ones.
