Tributes are pouring in for those who lost their lives in the fatal floods in Texas over the Fourth of July weekend.
One of the most talked-about losses is that of Dick Eastland, who ran Camp Mystic, where some of the most devastating destruction occurred, and who was credited as being a hero for helping save some of the campers’ lives.
Now, as rescue efforts turn to recovery, memories of Eastland’s outsized role at the camp are pulling the heartstrings of those who knew him, and even those who didn’t.
Camp Mystic sustained some of the worst damage in the flooding
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Authorities say at least 82 people have lost their lives, with some 41 still unaccounted for, including 10 young women from Camp Mystic.
The catastrophic flooding, triggered by torrential rains, caused the Guadalupe River in central Texas to rise more than 26 feet in under an hour, inundating buildings and sweeping entire structures off their foundations.
According to the Associated Press, search and rescue teams used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims.
Officials said more than 850 people were rescued in the first 36 hours. But Camp Mystic, which is situated right along the banks of the river, remains one of the hardest-hit areas.
Reports say Dick perished while trying to save others
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Camp Mystic, a Christian girls camp, has been operating for more than 100 years.
Its current owners, Dick Eastland and his wife “Tweety,” bought the camp and had been running it since 1974, making them the third generation of Eastlands to carry on a tradition dating back to 1926.
According to local media, 70-year old Dick Eastland had rushed in to rescue campers trapped by flood waters near at the Bubble Inn, one of the Camp Mystic properties that sat along the river’s banks.
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Witnesses say Eastland located a group of girls near the Inn, then guided them to roofs and trees above the floodwaters.
The Washington Post quoted Dick Eastland’s son Richard Eastland Jr. as saying that his father passed “trying to save campers … when floodwaters from the Guadalupe River overwhelmed the camp.”
Reports say his body was found near his vehicle, along with the bodies of other campers who also perished.
“Like a father figure”: Friends, colleagues remember Dick Eastland as selfless
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For those who knew Dick, his final actions are nothing short of heroic.
George Eastland, Dick’s grandson, posted on social media that his grandfather was “a dear friend, fishing buddy, hunting guide, golf partner, avid Texas Longhorns fanatic, my #1 fan, and above all else: a hero.”
Eastland was a brain cancer survivor, according to local media.
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KSAT TV station reports that Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said of Eastland: “It doesn’t surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers.”
Other politicians, like U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, said of Eastland’s sacrifice: “Camp Mystic’s Dick Eastland no doubt gave his life attempting to save his campers… Thank you Mr. Eastland.”
Eastland was known as a mentor, coach, and spiritual guide to generations of young women, some of whom remembered him as “a father figure to hundreds of girls each term.”
A former camper-turned-counselor, Katharine Somerville, described him to local media as “one of the most selfless men I’ve ever known… a comforting force in the uncertainty of everything.”
Camp Mystic calls the events an unimaginable tragedy, asks for prayers
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Media accounts say Dick and his wife Tweety attended the University of Texas in Austin. After graduating, they decided to make Camp Mystic their home, where they acted as camp managers.
According to the Camp Mystic website, the facility is a private Christian camp for girls that aims to boost every camper’s self-confidence, help them become “a better person” and to “grow spiritually.”
The camp offers a range of activities, including aerobics, yoga, canoeing and horseback riding.
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The camp has put out a statement regarding the tragedy that reads, in part: “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.”
Eastland’s family is requesting privacy as they grieve. They plan to hold a celebration of his life later this week.
Local media say the family has asked that donations be made to a newly created Camp Mystic Recovery Fund or to various local programs so that Dick’s lifelong mission of mentorship and service can continue.
The region has been declared a federal disaster site
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In the coming days, as hope dwindles for finding any survivors, massive efforts are underway to clean up the debris and to get people the supplies they need.
The Texas governor has declared a Day of Prayer, and President Trump has approved federal disaster aid and pledged to visit the region, according to local media.
The incident has been gripping netizens, who have been showing overwhelming support for the families and their loved ones.
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Netizens support claims that Dick Eastland was a true hero
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