Camp Mystic nurse's license suspended after evacuating herself, kids, and not contacting staff: Docs
Mary Elizabeth Eastland, one of the co-directors of Camp Mystic Guadalupe River and the chief health officer of the camp, had her nursing license temporarily suspended following her actions in the July 4, 2025 flooding in which 27 campers and staffers were killed, according to documents.
Records show the meeting was held on May 19, 2026. Documents from the Texas Board of Nursing website state that the board found Eastland didn't act adequately on the day of the flooding.
Records alleged that Eastland failed to do the following:
- Did not develop and implement an emergency shelter plan and/or evacuation plan, or emergency training protocols for campers, staff, and camp nurses.
- Did not implement or maintain shelter and evacuation protocols.
- Evacuated herself and her kids to higher ground without providing assistance or direction to all of the other campers and staff.
- Did not contact the nursing staff to provide emergency instruction. Nor did she contact emergency services at any time during or after she became aware that campers and/or staff were missing.
- Did not notify of the deaths of the 25 campers and two counselors within 24 hours, per the Texas Administrative Code.
Prior to the flood, documents also alleged that between March 1, 2025, and July 6, 2025, Eastland "inappropriately delegated the authorization for staff nurses to assess, diagnose, and administer (medication) to campers without prior physician assessment and recommendation."
In addition, she also "failed to ensure staff distributed medication in compliance with HIPAA requirements."
Through the documents, the board wrote that Eastland's conduct was likely to "injure campers and staff, and it created an unsafe environment and may have exposed campers and staff to physical harm, emotional harm, psychological harm, and loss of life."
Records show that her license was suspended the same day as the meeting.
The latest details come to light nearly a month after Camp Mystic announced that it will not be reopening for the summer amid ongoing investigations into the deadly flooding.
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