Richard “Dick” Eastland, the hero director of Camp Mystic, had battled floods on the grounds for decades and even once saw his pregnant wife airlifted from the Texas property because of a deluge, prompting him to repeatedly urge better warning systems in his flood-prone Kerr County.

Central Texas witnessed catastrophic flash floods. At least 52 people died. Richard Eastland, Camp Mystic's director, died a hero. He tried to save campers from rising floodwaters. Eastland and his wife managed the camp since 1974.

Camp Mystic director’s tragic final act to save girls from Texas floods as wall of water tore through cabins killing 27. ... avid Texas Longhorns fanatic, my #1 fan, and above all else: a hero.

In the early morning of July 4, floods ravaged the Texas Hill Country. In less than an hour, the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet, taking and altering the lives of countless Americans with every inch it climbed.

Sen. Ted Cruz had an emotional opening to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation meeting on Wednesday morning.

The team deployed around 7 a.m. Friday from Corpus Christi, about 200 miles south of where the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, had risen from about 3 feet to nearly 30 feet. Floodwaters in the area had swept through and battered several youth camps on the river banks — including Camp Mystic, the summer camp where they were headed.