AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The medical officer for the Texas summer camp where 27 girls lost their lives in a flood last year testified that she still hasn’t officially reported the deaths to state health authorities regulating camps. Mary Liz Eastland, a member of the Eastland family that owns Camp Mystic, faced questioning in a legal battle with victims’ families seeking to preserve evidence from the tragic event. The hearing has disclosed critical details about the flood and the delayed evacuation decisions.
While the deaths of 25 campers and two counselors are well-known, the Texas administrative code requires camps to report fatalities within 24 hours. Eastland admitted she didn’t think of this requirement in the immediate aftermath and couldn’t pinpoint when she learned of the campers' deaths. The camp’s reopening plan has been met with outrage from the victims' families.
State regulators will inspect the camp as part of the renewal application process, and Texas legislators are investigating the incident further. Families argue the camp should not reopen under the current management. The hearing featured emotional testimonies, highlighting the dire circumstances faced on the night of the flood.
As the camp moves forward with reopening plans, the ongoing investigations and public outrage indicate that accountability is far from settled.