The Texas Board of Nursing has temporarily suspended the registered nursing license of Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Eastland, chief health officer and co-director at Camp Mystic, citing failures in emergency preparedness that contributed to risks during last year’s deadly flooding.
Eastland, whose family owns the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, faced the emergency suspension order issued May 19, 2026. The board determined her continued practice poses “a continuing and imminent threat to public welfare.”
On July 4, 2025, catastrophic flooding struck the Texas Hill Country. At Camp Mystic, 27 campers and counselors died when floodwaters surged through riverside cabins. Eastland held multiple overlapping roles including registered nurse, supervising nurse, camp nurse, co-director and chief health officer.
According to the board’s order, Eastland allegedly failed to develop adequate emergency evacuation and shelter plans or provide proper training for staff and campers despite the camp’s known flood history. During the disaster, she is accused of evacuating herself and her children to higher ground without assisting or directing others and failing to promptly contact emergency services or report deaths within required timelines.
The suspension highlights broader questions about camp safety protocols following the tragedy, which claimed more than 100 lives across the region. Eastland’s family has faced multiple lawsuits from victims’ families alleging negligence in emergency response. A probable cause hearing is scheduled within 17 days of the order.
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