Investigators examining the deadly flooding at Camp Mystic say the loss of 27 campers and counselors could have been prevented, pointing to a series of critical safety failures made by the family that operated the camp. The findings were presented on Monday in Austin, where a team hired by state lawmakers briefed a panel after interviewing nearly 150 people. A final report is expected in May. According to investigators, the camp — located in a flood-prone area — lacked basic emergency preparedness, including flood training for counselors, evacuation planning and adequate staffing. Rep. Joe Moody, D–El Paso, reacted to the findings during the hearing. “This loss of life was preventable. And I don’t know how to process that,” Moody said. Lead investigator Casey Garrett outlined what she described as key mistakes by the camp-owning family, led by its “patriarch,” Dick Eastland, who also died in the flooding. At the top of the list: counselors responsible for young campers had never trained for a flooding emergency. Garrett compared that lack of preparation to standard safety practices elsewhere. “And if you look at what we’re doing in schools and look at what we have been doing for years with tornado drills and…

Another day of testimony is underway Tuesday over last July’s deadly floods in the Hill Country, with the owners of Camp Mystic appearing in court to answer questions about what happened. The focus of Tuesday’s hearing was on the critical hours before the flood and when chaos unfolded as generational floodwaters overtook the camp and swept 27 campers and counselors downstream. The people involved with the camp are getting a chance in court to explain and defend what they were able to do, and to answer for what wasn’t done, as the flooding rapidly intensified. The hearing is part of a lawsuit filed by the family of a young girl, Cile Steward, whose body still has not been found. According to the family’s attorney, the Stewards would not have filed the motion for a temporary restraining order had the camp operators agreed to two things: stop renovating and destroying evidence and hold off on reopening until Cile’s remains are recovered or when the state’s ongoing search for her is called off. Testimony also offered insight into how quickly conditions deteriorated. Witnesses talked about the challenge of trying to pull 500 girls from their beds during a heavy rain and…

The Texas Department of Transportation is asking for Texans’ opinions on Interstate 35. As part of a study to improve the highway that runs the length of the state, the transportation agency has opened a survey. The study will look at the statewide corridor from Laredo to the Texas/Oklahoma state line. “I-35 is one of the most important interstates for the state of Texas and our nation, supporting Texas’ economy and quality of life,” said TxDOT Transportation Planning and Programs Director Humberto Gonzalez Jr. “This statewide survey is a great opportunity for the public to join TxDOT in helping shape its future, continuing to successfully deliver and provide for Texans.” The survey is open through May 6. Learn more on txdot.gov. Courtesy of Texas News – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth …