Camp Mystic counselors had no emergency training before deadly flood

State investigators told Texas lawmakers Monday that counselors at Camp Mystic, a historic girls youth camp in the Hill Country, had no emergency training or flood drills before a deadly July 4 flood swept through the property last summer, raising new questions about preparedness at the site where 27 campers, counselors, and the camp’s executive director died.

During a joint hearing of House and Senate committees investigating the disaster, investigator Casey Garrett described a lack of basic safety planning and preparedness at the camp. She told lawmakers that counselors had not been trained for emergency response scenarios, including flooding, despite the well-known risk of flash floods in the region. Garrett also said there was no functioning evacuation plan in place that met state requirements.

According to the investigation, counselors were not given clear assignments for how to respond in an emergency and were not equipped with essential safety tools such as ladders or life jackets. Garrett noted that while the family that operated the camp was aware of the dangers posed by nearby waterways, that awareness did not translate into structured safety procedures or drills for staff.

The hearing marked the beginning of a two-day legislative inquiry into the tragedy, which also killed more than 100 people across the region when heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to surge through homes, recreational areas, and youth camps overnight. Lawmakers emphasized that the focus of the investigation is broad, though Camp Mystic has become a central point of scrutiny in recent weeks due to the number of deaths and the camp’s longstanding history in Texas.

Legislative leaders overseeing the inquiry acknowledged the emotional weight of the proceedings and the scale of loss experienced by families. They stated that the goal of the investigation is to establish a full account of what occurred and to identify potential failures in policy, oversight, and emergency preparedness.

Garrett’s testimony also described Camp Mystic as a tradition-rich environment with strong internal discipline and a culture that emphasized obedience and legacy. The camp, operated for generations by the Eastland family, was characterized as having a rigid leadership structure. Counselors reportedly hesitated to act independently during emergencies out of concern for disciplinary consequences.

On the night before the flood, camp activities continued normally, with recreational programming and traditional evening routines taking place. Hours later, rapidly rising waters overwhelmed cabins in the early morning darkness.

Court proceedings earlier this month in Austin included testimony from members of the Eastland family, who described chaotic conditions as the floodwaters rose and efforts to evacuate campers failed to keep pace with the speed of the disaster. Multiple lawsuits related to the incident remain active, including cases brought by families of deceased campers.

Lawmakers who visited the site in recent days described a renewed focus on how camp licensing rules and state safety requirements are enforced. The legislative committees are also expected to review whether additional reforms are needed for youth camps operating in flood-prone areas.

Following the tragedy, state officials passed new safety measures aimed at improving emergency protocols and requiring flood warning systems in vulnerable regions of the Hill Country, though experts have cautioned that such systems have limitations.

Camp Mystic is planning to reopen part of its property for the upcoming summer season, excluding the area where the fatalities occurred, even as state agencies and the Texas Rangers continue to review its operations and licensing status.