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Families File Wrongful-Death Suits Against Camp Mystic Over July 4 Flood That Killed 27

The cases accuse the camp’s owners of ignoring life-threatening warnings and failing to evacuate, moving the fight over responsibility into court.

Image
A search and rescue volunteer holds a T-shirt with the words "Camp Mystic" on it in Comfort, Texas, following the catastrophic flooding. Photo: Danielle Villasana for The Washington Post via Getty Images
A view of Camp Mystic, the site of where at least 20 girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. Rescuers were on Saturday searching for more than 20 girls missing from a riverside summer camp in the US state of Texas, after torrential rains caused devastating flooding that killed at least 27 people -- with more rain on the way. "So far, we've evacuated over 850 uninjured people, eight injured people and have recovered 27 deceased fatalities at this time. Of these 27, 18 are adults, nine are children," said Kerr Country Sheriff Larry Leitha on July 5. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP) (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
FILE - This aerial photo shows damage to Camp Mystic from flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, July 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Overview

  • Multiple lawsuits were filed Nov. 10–11 in Travis County alleging gross negligence and wrongful death against Camp Mystic, affiliated entities, and members of the Eastland family.
  • Plaintiffs say the camp lacked required evacuation plans, ignored National Weather Service alerts, ordered children to stay in low-lying cabins, and directed staff to secure equipment as waters rose.
  • The complaints seek jury trials and more than $1 million in damages per case, with filings from families of six campers and two counselors among those killed.
  • Defendants named include Camp Mystic, Natural Fountains Properties, Mystic Camps Family Partnership and Management, and the estate of owner Richard Eastland along with Willetta, Edward, and Mary Liz Eastland.
  • Camp Mystic and its attorneys expressed sympathy but dispute the allegations as misinformation and argue the flooding was unprecedented with inadequate warning systems, as Texas’ new camp-safety laws and planned partial reopening provide a broader backdrop.