Guard Admits Early Evacuation Could Have Saved Lives in Camp Flood

Wed Apr 15 2026 21:48:37 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A recent court hearing revealed that a security guard at Camp Mystic acknowledged that an early evacuation order could have prevented the tragic loss of life during last year’s flood in Texas.

During a legal hearing, Glenn Juenke, the security guard at Camp Mystic, stated that had there been an early evacuation order during last year's deadly flood, lives could have been saved. He shared that he took the initiative to direct campers to higher ground instead of following an evacuation plan, which was reportedly never communicated effectively. The hearing highlights the ongoing litigation between camp operators wanting to reopen and families of the victims, amid scrutiny of the camp's safety measures.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A security guard at Camp Mystic testified that early evacuation orders during last year’s flood could have saved lives. Glenn Juenke, who helped some campers escape to higher ground, was speaking in a court hearing regarding the legal disputes following the July 4th flood.

During his testimony, Juenke shared that he made the decision to evacuate a group of girls as floodwaters rose, noting he was never given any emergency training on evacuation by camp management. The families of the victims continue to oppose the camp's plan to reopen, citing a lack of proper safety protocols.

Juenke detailed the chaos of the night, mentioning that he quickly abandoned his vehicle and later got trapped on a cabin as they struggled to stay afloat, stating: It was a long night... the girls did everything I told them to do. Unfortunately, 25 campers and two teenage counselors lost their lives in the tragedy, as recovery efforts continue.

Lawyers for the victims' families emphasized the absence of clear evacuation plans, questioning why no alerts were made before the storm intensified. Juenke defended the team's actions that night, claiming they did their best under dire conditions.