ENVIRONMENT

The Guadalupe River's Unseen Threat

Hunt, Texas, USAFri Jul 11 2025

For many years, Dick Eastland knew the Guadalupe River could be dangerous. He saw it flood Camp Mystic many times. Once, his pregnant wife had to be flown to a hospital because of the floodwaters. Eastland worked hard to make things safer.

Efforts to Improve Safety

  • Helped create a new flood warning system after 10 kids died at another camp in 1987.
  • Joined the local river authority to improve flood warnings.

The Warning System Failed

The warning system Eastland pushed for stopped working. It became old and broken. The river authority turned it off in 1999. Newer ideas for better flood warnings didn't get enough support or money.

  • Some people didn't want to spend the money.
  • Others just didn't care enough.

Camp Mystic's Vulnerability

  • Some cabins were in the most dangerous flood areas.
  • Even when new cabins were built in safer spots, the old ones stayed.
  • Experts say Camp Mystic should have moved the risky cabins or at least made sure campers slept in safer places.

A Hero's Legacy

Eastland died trying to save campers during the recent floods. Many people remember him as a hero. He loved the river but knew it could be deadly.

"The river is beautiful, but you have to respect it."

The Importance of Preparedness

The floods at Camp Mystic show how important it is to be ready. The river authority is now trying to create a new system to monitor floods. But it's too late for Eastland and the others who lost their lives.

questions

    Why were the flood warning systems not updated or maintained despite the known risks and past incidents?
    What specific measures could have been taken to relocate or reinforce the cabins in high-risk flood zones at Camp Mystic?
    What lessons can be learned from the Camp Mystic tragedy to improve flood preparedness in the future?

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