Key Point Summary – Camp Mystic Co-Owner Waited

• Richard “Dick” Eastland received alert at 1:14 a.m. but didn’t act immediately
• Camp Mystic started evacuation efforts around 2:00 a.m.
• Eastland died while trying to rescue campers from rising waters
• Family says alert lacked urgency and evacuation instructions
• 27 campers and counselors lost their lives in the flood
• Eastland used walkie-talkies to coordinate with relatives on site
• Family shared the timeline to counter speculation

Tragedy Strikes Despite Early Warning

,Richard “Dick” Eastland got a “life-threatening” flash flood alert on his phone at 1:14 a.m. while at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp in Hunt, Texas. However, he waited over 45 minutes before starting to evacuate the young campers.

By the time the staff began moving girls to higher ground around 2:00 a.m., the floodwaters had already started surging. The National Weather Service alert didn’t include direct orders to evacuate, according to family spokesperson Jeff Carr, which led to confusion.

Alert Seemed Routine, Family Claims

Carr explained that Eastland and his team treated the warning like others they had received in the past. “They had no information that indicated the magnitude of what was coming,” he said. “It looked like a standard alert. They’d seen dozens like it before.”

Despite the initial delay, Eastland immediately contacted his family members who also worked at the camp. They used walkie-talkies to coordinate their response and began taking action as soon as they noticed the floodwaters rising.

Final Act of Heroism

Eastland lost his life trying to rescue the girls once the true danger became clear. The flash flood eventually claimed 27 lives—both children and counselors—making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent Texas history.

His family insists he did everything he could once the threat became visible. They released a preliminary timeline pieced together from interviews with relatives who were on the scene to dispel any growing rumors or criticism.

Aftermath and Growing Questions

The tragic event has sparked public concern over how flash flood warnings are issued and interpreted. Critics argue that relying on routine alerts without clearer instructions can lead to deadly misunderstandings.

In the wake of this catastrophe, the National Weather Service may face pressure to refine how it communicates imminent dangers to ensure swifter, clearer actions in the future.

Remembering the Victims

As Texas mourns the young lives lost, many are also honoring Eastland’s final moments. Though his decision to wait has raised questions, his effort to save the girls in his final hour is being remembered as an act of bravery.

Still, the incident has become a grim reminder that even minutes matter in a natural disaster. The heartbreaking delay at Camp Mystic has left the community asking what could have been done differently—and demanding better safeguards for the future.