Richard “Dick” Eastland, a Texas summer camp leader who died during deadly flash floods that reportedly began in early July, is being remembered for his final act of courage as communities continue to search for missing children and recover from a disaster that devastated multiple counties.
The tragedy unfolded on Friday, July 4, 2025, with over 700 children attending Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp located along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County.
As reported by The Washington Post, Richard, 74, co-owner and longtime leader of Camp Mystic, reportedly attempted to evacuate the youngest campers from the Bubble Inn cabin when floodwaters overtook the grounds.
He was later found in a black SUV along with three girls he had tried to rescue. Authorities said he died en route to the hospital.
His death was confirmed by his nephew and widely acknowledged in a Facebook post by journalist Kaitlyn Ross, who described him as a father figure to generations of girls. She noted that his final act reflected the dedication and compassion he showed throughout his life.
As the community mourned his loss, search and rescue efforts continued at Camp Mystic. City officials reportedly said on Saturday, July 5, that 27 girls from the camp were still missing. Meanwhile, Richard’s wife, Tweety Eastland, who co-managed the camp, was later found safe at their home.
Richard and his wife began leading Camp Mystic in 1974, continuing a family legacy as the third generation to oversee the private Christian camp, which opened in 1939. According to the camp’s website, they worked alongside their children and grandchildren to help girls build confidence, faith, and character.
Recalling the events that led to the destruction of Camp Mystic, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the camp hosted several hundred children at the time. Most reached higher ground, where they waited for rescue without electricity. However, dozens remained unaccounted for in the immediate aftermath.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said the exact number of missing campers was still being determined. “The problem was, it was a holiday weekend here,” he said, referring to the Fourth of July celebration. “We had a lot of campers, and we do not know that number at this time.”
As local authorities worked to account for those still unaccounted for, Governor Greg Abbott visited Kerrville over the weekend and pledged the full resources of the state in support of local recovery. “This is a time when we, as a state, need God more than ever,” he said.
Greg said the state and local agencies were working closely together to ensure all concerns were addressed quickly and effectively. He committed “limitless” assistance to affected communities.
On July 4, the governor declared a state of disaster for 15 counties — Bandera, Coke, Comal, Concho, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reeves, San Saba, and Tom Green — allowing state agencies to suspend certain regulations and deploy emergency aid.
“I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster,” the proclamation stated.
To coordinate the response, the Texas Division of Emergency Management raised the State Emergency Operations Center to Level II. The state has deployed more than 1,000 responders, 800 vehicles and equipment assets, and 15 agencies. Federal assistance has also been made available.
These efforts came in response to the widespread devastation caused by the flooding, which began earlier in the week and escalated rapidly across the region.
Severe storms that began on July 2 triggered flash floods across Central and West Texas. The Guadalupe River surged beyond critical levels, inundating riverside communities and overwhelming emergency infrastructure.
According to CNN, at least 82 people have died across the state, including 28 children. Kerr County reported the majority of fatalities, with 68 confirmed dead. Sheriff Leitha said the overall number of missing remained uncertain as crews continued search operations.
Rescue teams remain on the ground. The Texas Air National Guard has deployed drones to assist with the effort. CNN also reported that Kerr County had previously considered installing flood warning sirens, but the plan was never implemented.
