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 lightning event.
Several members of the Eastland family, who own the camp, have faced intense scrutiny about their actions or inaction in the hours leading up to and during the devastating flash flood, including: choosing not to invest $1,500 to equip each cabin with multiple communication devices ahead of time and NOAA weather radios, operators were not well-versed or equipped with multiple free government weather alert service apps, and they focused first on moving canoes instead of evacuating the children and teens in their care.
The cost for each camper is about $7,000, according to testimony.
One witness said he did not get updates on his phone because it was in his truck while he was in the middle of the flooding.
Edward Eastland Jr. shifted some of the blame to the state for not having an outdoor warning siren, despite requests for one and plans years earlier.
He testified that they have since taken upon themselves to add their own warning system on their property.
Camp Mystic, which is facing multiple investigations and lawsuits, has filed to partially reopen this summer.
More than 800 families have reportedly signed up to return to Camp Mystic if it is allowed to open in the coming weeks.
All told, the flood claimed at least 136 lives along a several-mile stretch.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.
