20 hours ago
Camp Mystic director allegedly waited 45 minutes to start evacuating children
The beloved director of Camp Mystic allegedly waited more than 45 minutes to begin evacuating children after receiving an emergency flash flood alert. Richard 'Dick' Eastland, 70, died while trying to rescue campers from the horrific flooding that swept through the private all-girls Christian camp in Texas on July 4.
But apparently Eastland did not start evacuation campers to higher ground until close to 2:00 am, when floodwaters began rushing through the area. At 4:03am, the National Weather Service issued a much more urgent message.
'This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for South-central Kerr County, including Hunt. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!' the alert read.
'They got a standard run-of-the-mill NWS warning that they've seen dozens of times before.' Eastland's nephew, Gardner Eastland, confirmed Richard's death in a Facebook post. The camp director's wife, Tweety, was found safe at their home, according to Texas Public Radio . The Father-of-four died in a helicopter on the way to a Houston hospital, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly told the Washington Post.
The Eastlands have owned and operated Camp Mystic since 1974, and many viewed him as a father figure at the camp. 'It doesn't surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers,' The Kerrville Daily Times guest columnist Paige Sumner said in a tribute to Eastland.
'Dick was the father figure to all of us while we were away from home at Camp Mystic for six weeks. 'He was the father of four amazing boys, but he had hundreds of girls each term who looked up to him like a dad. I would never have taken a fishing class if it wasn't taught by my new friend Dick.'
The couple has 11 grandchildren, and several of their children and their partners help manage the camp. According to the camp website, the Eastland's oldest son, Richard, manages the camp's kitchen; their youngest son, Edward, and his wife are directors of Camp Mystic Guadalupe River.
