Texas has declared a state of disaster after catastrophic flooding swept through 15 counties, claiming at least 82 lives — including 28 children. Among the victims was Richard “Dick” Eastland, a revered summer camp leader who died while trying to rescue campers from rising waters at Camp Mystic in Kerr County. His death has left a deep void in a community he served for decades.
The tragedy struck on July 4, 2025, when flash floods tore through Camp Mystic, a historic Christian girls’ camp nestled along the Guadalupe River. More than 700 children were at the camp when the waters surged. Eastland, 74, co-owner of the camp, was discovered in an SUV alongside three girls he had attempted to evacuate. He succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.