Families of children and counselors killed in July’s deadly flooding at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, have filed multiple lawsuits accusing the camp’s owners of negligence and wrongful death. The disaster, triggered by slow-moving thunderstorms that caused the Guadalupe River to rise more than 20 feet, claimed the lives of 27 campers and staff among more than 130 people who died across Central Texas. The lawsuits allege that Camp Mystic operated in a known flood zone and failed to properly evacuate children despite repeated weather warnings. The camp’s legal team disputes those claims, saying the flooding was unprecedented and that warning systems in the area were inadequate.
The Night of the Flooding
July 7, 2025; Guadalupe River, TX, USA; TEXSAR search-and-rescue volunteers scour the banks of the Guadalupe River, looking for victims of the recent floods. The group has deployed 50 volunteers and six swift-water rescue boats to help search for victims. Mandatory Credit: Courtesy of TEXSAR via Imagn Images
In the early hours of July 4, the Guadalupe River rose rapidly after heavy rains stalled over the Texas Hill Country. NASA and federal weather agencies reported that more than 20 inches of rain fell in some areas between July 4 and 7, creating catastrophic flash flooding. Drought conditions preceding the storm worsened runoff, making the floods more severe. At Camp Mystic, located near Hunt, floodwaters overwhelmed the grounds, sweeping away cabins, vehicles and equipment. The camp’s director, Dick Eastland, died attempting to rescue campers. Twenty-five girls and two counselors were among those who lost their lives. The magnitude of the disaster shocked Texas communities and prompted scrutiny of emergency procedures at summer camps statewide.
Allegations of Negligence
An RV is mangled and destroyed inside the Guadalupe Keys RV Resort, in Center Point, Texas on July 7, 2025 after catastrophic flooding of the Guadalupe River last week.
The families of six campers and two counselors filed two lawsuits in Travis County, alleging Camp Mystic ignored both legal and moral duties to protect children. According to the filings, the camp failed to implement a required evacuation plan and disregarded repeated weather warnings. The families noted that staff appeared to secure equipment before evacuating campers. Plaintiffs claim the camp’s “stay-put” order cost lives, as children and counselors in low-lying cabins were told to remain in place even after others were moved to higher ground. The lawsuit describes the flood response as a “self-created disaster” and argues that lives could have been saved with better planning and quicker action. The families seek more than $1 million in damages per lawsuit.
The Peck Family’s Separate Suit
Large trees, and other debris, clutter the Guadalupe River, after catastrophic flooding hit the area last week. Photo taken on Monday, July 7, 2025, in Comfort, Texas.
A separate lawsuit was filed by the parents of 8-year-old Eloise “Lulu” Peck, one of the victims. The Pecks allege that Camp Mystic’s leadership knew the property was vulnerable to flooding for decades but failed to warn families. The filing claims that the Eastland family, who have owned the camp since 1939, was aware as far back as the 1930s that cabins sat directly in a floodplain along the Guadalupe River. The lawsuit also accuses the camp of attempting to remove flood risk designations from federal maps in recent years to avoid insurance costs. The Pecks’ lawsuit seeks compensation for wrongful death and emotional anguish and asserts that the camp betrayed the trust of parents who expected their children to be safe.
Camp Mystic’s Defense
Several trees are cut down inside the Guadalupe Keys RV Resort in Center Point, Texas, on July 7, 2025, after catastrophic flooding of the Guadalupe River last week.
Camp Mystic’s attorneys argue that the lawsuits contain misinformation and overlook the unprecedented nature of the flooding. The camp’s legal team maintains that the disaster exceeded historical flood levels “by several magnitudes” and that no effective warning systems were in place in the region. They also emphasize that the camp’s director and staff risked their lives to save others during the storm, ultimately rescuing more than 160 children before conditions became unmanageable. Defense lawyers assert that the camp did not act negligently but faced an extraordinary weather event beyond anyone’s control. The camp has expressed continued sympathy for the families and has pledged to cooperate with investigators while defending against the civil claims.
Legal and Legislative Fallout
July 7, 2025; Guadalupe River, TX, USA; TEXSAR search-and-rescue volunteers scour the banks of the Guadalupe River, looking for victims of the recent floods. The group has deployed 50 volunteers and six swift-water rescue boats to help search for victims. Mandatory Credit: Courtesy of TEXSAR via Imagn Images
The tragedy at Camp Mystic has spurred both legal and political action in Texas. Lawmakers have introduced new measures to improve flood warning systems and strengthen safety standards for youth camps statewide. Families of victims, including those from Camp Mystic, have urged officials to establish clearer evacuation protocols and ensure camps disclose flood risks to parents. Meanwhile, Camp Mystic announced plans to partially reopen in 2026 and build a memorial to the victims, a decision that has divided families. Some parents say reopening is premature, arguing that accountability and reform must come first.
Sources: NBC News, Austin American-Statesman, Texas Tribune
