In brief
During a recent legal hearing regarding the Camp Mystic flood disaster, a security guard testified that a timely evacuation order could have saved lives. The camp's operators are seeking to reopen amid ongoing scrutiny and calls for accountability from the families of victims. The hearing revealed lapses in emergency preparations and delayed evacuation decisions, a concern that has attracted significant attention from the community.
AUSTIN, Texas (RTW News) — A security guard at Camp Mystic recalled in a recent hearing that had an evacuation order been issued sooner during last year's catastrophic flood, many lives might have been spared. Glenn Juenke, who played a critical role in moving some campers to a safer location that night, conveyed his regrets during the concluding sessions of a three-day court hearing involving camp operators and families of the flood victims.Under legal examination, Juenke detailed how he made the decision to direct a group of girls to higher ground as the waters quickly rose around them. His testimony emerged amidst ongoing efforts by camp operators to secure a license to reopen the all-girls Christian Camp this upcoming summer, despite the pain and objections voiced by families mourning the loss of their loved ones.Juenke was not part of official evacuation orders and noted that neither the campers nor staff had received adequate training on emergency protocols prior to the incident. The flood occurred during the early hours of July 4, sweeping through the Guadalupe River and tragically claiming the lives of 25 campers and two counselors, along with the camp’s co-owner.Families are raising concerns over the camp's emergency procedures, citing failures in the evacuation protocol and the absence of actionable decisions made to ensure the safety of the children. A brief notice inside the cabins instructed campers to remain there until given further instruction, a directive that many argue proved fatal.Now, as the camp faces scrutiny regarding its readiness for emergencies, the hearing sheds light on critical missteps taken during the disaster. If anyone had used the speakers or a walkie-talkie to announce the need to evacuate before 3 a.m., there would have been survivors, stressed an attorney representing the family of Cile Steward, an 8-year-old victim whose body remains missing. Juenke defended the actions taken, stating, We did everything we could do in the time that we had.As the legal battle continues, the future of Camp Mystic hangs in the balance, alongside the call for justice from families affected by this harrowing event.
