r/KerrCountyFloods

A public meeting of the Texas Board of Nursing was held on May 19, 2026, at 1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 14-101, Austin, Texas, in which the Temporary Suspension of Permanent Registered Nurse License Number 754060, issued to MARY ELIZABETH EASTLAND was considered pursuant to Section 301.455, TEXAS OCCUPATIONS CODE.

Staff of the Texas Board of Nursing appeared and presented evidence and information concerning the conduct of MARY ELIZABETH EASTLAND and whether her continued practice as a nurse would constitute a continuing and imminent threat to the public welfare.

After review and due consideration of the evidence and information presented, the Board finds that the following charges are substantiated:

CHARGE I.
Prior to July 4, 2025, while serving as a Registered Nurse, Supervising Nurse, Camp Nurse, Director, and Chief Health Officer with Camp Mystic, Hunt, Texas, Respondent failed to develop and maintain adequate emergency plans and emergency training protocols for campers, staff and camp nurses at Camp Mystic. Moreover, Respondent should have been aware of Camp Mystic's experiences during previous catastrophic flooding events but failed to develop and implement inadequate emergency shelter plan and/or evacuation plan. Respondent's lack of emergency preparedness for herself and her camp nurses was likely to injure campers and staff in that it created and/or maintained an unsafe environment and likely resulted in physical harm, emotional harm, psychological harm, and loss of life to campers and staff in an emergency or disaster at Camp Mystic.

CHARGE II.
During and after the catastrophic flooding event on or about July 4, 2025, while serving as a Registered Nurse, Supervising Nurse, Camp Nurse, Director, and Chief Health Officer with Camp Mystic, Hunt, Texas, Respondent failed to implement or maintain adequate shelter and evacuation protocols to protect campers and staff during and after an emergency or disaster at Camp Mystic. Respondent's conduct was likely to injure campers and staff in that it created an unsafe environment and may have unnecessarily exposed campers and staff to physical harm, emotional harm, psychological harm, and loss of life.

CHARGE III.
On or about July 4, 2025, while serving as a Registered Nurse, Supervising Nurse, Camp Nurse, Director, and Chief Health Officer with Camp Mystic, Hunt, Texas, Respondent abandoned the campers and staff when the camp site began to flood at approximately 0200 by evacuating herself and her children to higher ground without providing any assistance or direction to all of the other campers and staff. Further, Respondent failed to contact the nursing staff via phone to provide
direction and/or emergency instruction at any time. Finally, Respondent failed to contact emergency services at any time during the event or after she became aware campers and/or staff were missing and unaccounted for. Subsequently, no less than twenty-seven (27) campers and staff members passed away in the flood waters. Respondent's conduct exposed the campers and staff unnecessarily to risk of harm in that leaving the area without helping others during and after the catastrophic event likely resulted in the campers and staff not getting the health care, support, and
supervision they needed to manage physical harm, emotional harm, psychological harm, and loss of life.

CHARGE IV.
On or about July 4, 2025, through March 31, 2026, while serving as a Registered Nurse, Supervising Nurse, Camp Nurse, Director, and Chief Health Officer with Camp Mystic, Hunt, Texas, Respondent failed to report the deaths of no less than of twenty-five (25) campers and two (2) counselors within 24 hours per Texas Administrative Code §265.15. Respondent's conduct was deceptive and denied officials of the State of Texas information needed to regulate the camp site Respondent was administratively responsible for.

CHARGE V.
On or about March 1, 2025, through July 6, 2025, while serving as a Registered Nurse, Supervising Nurse, Camp Nurse, Director, and Chief Health Officer with Camp Mystic, Hunt, Texas,Respondent inappropriately delegated the authorization for staff nurses to assess, diagnose and administer Phenergan suppositories, Zofran, Zithromax, Amoxicillin, Prednisone, Albuterol, and Epinephrine to campers without prior physician assessment and recommendation. Instead, Respondent allowed staff to notify the camp doctor within twenty-four (24) hours of starting the medication for a follow-up appointment in office. Respondent's conduct exposed campers unnecessarily to a risk of harm from interventions provided without the benefit of a physician's expertise.

CHARGE VI.
On or about May 1, 2025, through July 6, 2025, while serving as a Registered Nurse, Supervising Nurse, Camp Nurse, Director, and Chief Health Officer with Camp Mystic, Hunt, Texas, Respondent failed to personally administer medication to campers per Texas Administrative Code 265.15(l) or document written authorization to allow others to administer the medications in her place. In addition, Respondent failed to ensure staff distributed medications in compliance with HIPAA requirements in that staff brought campers medications to the dining halls and other camp areas for distribution. Further, Respondent failed to ensure medications were safely stored in a lockable cabinet or other secure location that was not accessible to campers. Respondent's conduct was in violation of State laws including 25 TEX ADMIN CODE. 265.15 regarding Medical and Nursing Care. Respondent's conduct resulted in incomplete medical records and was likely to injure the campers in that subsequent care givers would rely on her documentation to further
medicate the campers.

The Texas Board of Nursing further finds that, given the nature of the charges, the continued practice of nursing by MARY ELIZABETH EASTLAND constitutes a continuing and imminent threat to public welfare and that the temporary suspension of Permanent Registered Nurse License Number 754060, is justified pursuant to Section 301.455, TEXAS OCCUPATIONS
CODE.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that Permanent Registered Nurse License Number 754060, issued to MARY ELIZABETH EASTLAND, to practice nursing in the State of Texas be, and the same is/are, hereby SUSPENDED IMMEDIATELY in accordance with Section 301.455, TEXAS OCCUPATIONS CODE.

Where do you think the Mystic families are sending their girls this summer? If anywhere. I'm not talking about the H27 families. They're in a uniquely difficult and painful position I know. Everyone else associated with Mystic.

I was just on the Camp Waldemar website and thought to myself, Waldemar and the other camps must have gotten an influx of former Mystic families looking for another camp to send their girls to this summer.

I know there are a lot of Mystic families in these threads, maybe they can chime in.

Just for those who are focused hard on social media, and maybe have been all of this time, but who need a better outlet for health and well being...

 

The Kerrville website has linked to a network of non-profits known as Kerr Together for emotional and mental health support (and more).

 

 

> Kerr Together Long-Term Recovery Group (KTLRG) is a collaborative network of nonprofit organizations, faith-based partners, local governments, and private-sector stakeholders working together to support long-term recovery efforts in Kerr County and Comfort, Texas. Formed in response to the July 4, 2025 disaster, Kerr Together exists to ensure that recovery is coordinated, equitable, and sustainable for the businesses, individuals, families, and communities we serve.

>

> Together, our work is strengthening community resilience, reducing duplication of services, and ensuring resources are deployed where they are needed most.

>

> Kerr Together is the community-recognized coordinating body for long-term recovery in Kerr County & Comfort — bringing partners together to serve disaster-impacted households and businesses and restore community assets with purpose and accountability.

 

 

> Mental Health Support

> The flood’s impact isn’t only physical. Stress, grief, sleep problems, and anxiety are common after disaster. This hub connects Kerr County residents with immediate crisis help and steady, long-term support, guided by the Emotional & Spiritual Care Working Group.

 

> Immediate Crisis Support (24/7)

> If you or someone you know is in immediate emotional distress or crisis, please use these services:

> * 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or chat online (24/7). Trained counselors provide free, confidential help nationwide.

> * Hill Country MHDD Crisis Hotline: Call 877-466-0660 (24/7). Local Mental Health Agency (LMHA) for Kerr County that can connect you to crisis teams and follow-up care.

> * Hill Country MHDD Walk-in Support: Call 830-955-1745 or visit 819 Water St., Suite 170, Kerrville, TX 78028. Monday through Friday, 8am – 6pm.

> * Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990 (24/7). Crisis counseling for disaster survivors and caregivers.

> * Kerr County Sheriff (non-emergency): Call 830-896-1216 (24/7).

> * Life-Threatening Emergencies: Call 911 (24/7).

 

 

Don't hesitate to call someone if you need help.

Don't rely on Reddit - talk to a professional.

https://legacy.co.kerr.tx.us/commcrt/minutes/2016/050916CC.txt

Monday, May 9, 2016

KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT

 

 

> JUDGE POLLARD: Public education is an important part of it, too. And it was pointed out to me, my wife and I were visiting somebody in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas, back when they had all the tornadoes up there. And you can hear the air raid sirens. We could hear them inside the house. And the people we were visiting with there in Richardson and I said what is that, you know, what does that mean. They're not close to a river or anything like that. They said I don't know. And we just sat around fat, dumb and happy. So I think public education is a part of it, you know.

 

> SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Public education is a major part of it and this can help do that. These grants can and the funding can. Because I know Judge Pollard probably would, Buster probably does, but I doubt -- Bob may since you grew up here. I doubt if there's very many people in this County anymore that remember as I do, and several of us in here may, watching logs come up on top of the big bridge here at Sidney Baker during the flood in '78. '77, '78.

 

> JUDGE POLLARD: Absolutely.

 

> SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: People don't realize what this river can do and how you quickly it can do it. That was a big factor in the Hermann Sons disaster that we worked years ago that I spent all day in a helicopter. So we need to get it out. It's not like the Mississippi or a lot of the other rivers that just constantly come up slowly. You know this river in ten minutes can be up 20 or 30 feet.

 

> JUDGE POLLARD: Maybe people don't remember but in what, '32 or '34 flood where the River Hills shopping Center --

 

> SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: I don't remember that one. You might.

 

> JUDGE POLLARD: I wasn't here either. But the River Hills Shopping Center had about ten feet of water, that area right there, had about ten feet of water in it. So that whole shopping center would have been under water then.

 

> COMMISSIONER MOSER: Well at that time the Sheriff was missing. The bridge in Center Point across on highway 480, which is I don't know --

 

> SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: I've seen that.

 

> COMMISSIONER MOSER: -- 35 or 40 feet above the river. Water went over the bridge.

 

> SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Oh, I've seen that bridge go under water three or four times just since I've been with the Sheriff's office, okay.

 

> COMMISSIONER REEVES: In '78 we lost the bridge on Junction Highway at Goat Creek.

 

> SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: Even my dad was the one they told to look in the rearview mirror, because right when he crossed it the bridge collapsed.

 

> COMMISSIONER LETZ: We need the education. Highway 27, large parts of it were six foot under water.

 

> SHERIFF HIERHOLZER: We talk about Verde Creek and the Guadalupe, and a lot of people don't realize, that comes together in Center Point Estates, in that housing edition. Which back during '78 is where we lost about 8 people out of that housing edition if I remember.

 

(edited for formatting)

I swear I remember a girl saying a man was yelling "where's my niece, where's my niece?" It was an interview a few days or maybe weeks after the flood. Now that I know the story, was that one of the Eastlands who went to evacuate his daughter and niece? I assume it was. I believe she said she didn't know who it was at the time of the interview.

Looking for a group who treats everyone involved in the July 2025 flooding at Hunt (and Ingram and Kerrville) with humanity. Suggestions from anyone not bent on destroying the Eastlands.

Are the other families not suing?? I know they have 2 years to actually file, but I am surprised only 5 have initiated so far. A lot of times in cases like this the main driving force for families is to really find out what happened, like what we have seen so far. There is probably much more the families won't know about until discovery and trial is completed.

I was curious and looked him up after reading the "Fact" post, there are some really obnoxious comments on there talking about the victims parents/families. It's truley sick. And so unprofessional for the attorney to allow them on his page. I'm an attorney, so to see an attorney act like him in such a sensitive case is just mind boggling. They really come off as so pompous and self-righteous.

Click for a glimpse (brief aerial video) of how absolutely beautiful this corner of the Hill Country is. Brief aerial video on their homepage.

I’m appalled (but not surprised) at the blatant disregard the Mystic camp showed with their last-minute withdrawal.

Not only did they waste the court’s time, but they know the H27 families travel in for these things from all over the state (and outside the state!). And the travel expenses, time away from work etc are one thing.
But they also know that each of these families have young surviving children who they need to be away from and arrange for care for for these things - children who they probably find it that much harder to be away from in the first place these days due to the direct results of the Eastlands’ negligence.

It’s just cruel and thoughtless - right up their alley, I guess.

(May be paywalled, but Apple users should be able to read by tapping the icon on the left of the search bar, then “show reader.”) Here are some excerpts:

>Campers are set to arrive at the Houston YMCA’s Camp Cullen in less than a month, but the camp still doesn’t know if it will be able to reopen — one of hundreds across the state with pending licenses as summer camp season rapidly approaches. 

>The camp north of Lake Livingston spent nearly $50,000 on safety upgrades mandated by new state laws passed in response to last year’s July 4 floods…

>Camp Cullen, unlike Camp Mystic, isn’t in a flood plain. But it was still pushed to build a new public address system and install lighting and signs along evacuation routes. It laid down costly new fiber-optic cables. And it spent $10,300 on the state’s new licensing fee, up from $450 the year before. 

>Bobby Thomas, the camp’s director, thought the license renewal process would be easy given all the upgrades. Instead, the state has twice sent back the application, requesting minor fixes that Thomas described as “busy work.” Those included adding a screenshot of the Federal Emergency Management Agency website showing that the camp is not in a flood zone and copying and pasting the camp’s evacuation plans to a series of emergency scenarios, even though the plans were the same in each case, and though some of the cases didn’t apply to his camp. 

>Hundreds of summer camps are facing the same uncertainty. The state was still weighing licenses for 245 camps — roughly 75% of those that have applied — as of Friday, according to the latest available data from the Department of State Health Services, which oversees camp licensing. 

>The situation has left state leaders scrambling to ensure the new camp safety laws passed swiftly last summer do not inadvertently shutter hundreds of camps. 

>The agency last week essentially waived a requirement written into the laws that camps install fiber-optic cables, like the ones Camp Cullen did, to ensure internet access in emergencies, saying it would not deny licenses to camps that have another form of backup internet. That came after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued a statement saying other means of ensuring backup internet “would satisfy the purpose and spirit of the law.”

>And now the health agency has started telling camps with pending licenses that they can operate as long as they applied before their current license expired. Even those that have their licenses denied or suspended by the state can stay open if they appeal the decision under a lengthy appeals process.  

>“While that is going on, the camp can continue to operate under the license that they had when they submitted their renewal application,” said Lara Anton, a spokeswoman for the state health agency. “The hearings process will likely take several months to complete.”….

>The lengthy appeals process would appear to allow virtually any camp to operate this summer, even if they do not meet the new rules, which were designed to prevent another crisis like Camp Mystic, where camp operators and staff have acknowledged they missed official flood warnings, lacked a detailed evacuation plan and waited too long to try to get the children out. Camp Mystic initially applied for a new license to reopen this summer, but withdrew its application last month.

Has anyone heard how the other lawsuits are progressing? I know there cannot be laws for everything, but I am hoping that better flood warnings will protect future visitors. Also, is there any progress being made on a permanent memorial for all the flood victims? Right now it makes sense that the Mystic cases are dominating the news, given that summer camp season is beginning. Also, Cile is still missing (as is Mr. Ramsey). Seeing all those folks with "119" signs when the state investigative panel did the visit to Mystic property made me think about how painful this must be for other families who lost their loved ones to feel like their tragedies are not being regarded with as much remembrance. I think often of all those people camping and living by the river who drowned in the flood.