How is Laura Bush connected to Camp Mystic? Former First Lady’s daughter Jenna Bush Hager shares emotional message after devastating Texas flood
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Jenna Bush Hager (Photo: Everett Collection)Jenna Bush Hager shared an emotional message after the Texas flood on the July 7, 2025, episode of Today with Jenna and Friends. On Friday (July 4, 2025), the Guadalupe River in Texas swelled up rapidly after torrential rain. According to BBC's report dated July 8, 2025, at least 161 people are missing and at least 110 people have passed away.
Camp Mystic, the Christian all-girls summer camp located near the Guadalupe River, was greatly impacted by the flood. On Monday, the camp released a statement on the website, announcing the death of 27 people, including the staff and young girls.
Jenna Bush Hager is the daughter of former US President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush. On Monday, Hager shared on the talk show that her mother was a drama counselor at Camp Mystic, and they shared many fond memories, as the 100-year-old Christian camp had been attended by generations of women, including her friends and their daughters.
"My mom was a counselor there, but also so many of my friends were raised at this camp. Texas camps are institutions, as you just heard, where many family members, generations, this camp was 100 years old, so grandmothers, mothers, kids, have all gone there," Jenna Bush Hager said.
Notably, Jenna Bush Hager mentioned that her two daughters, Poppy and Mila, were dropped off at another camp in Texas. She also mentioned her friends' daughters attended Camp Mystic last week.
Richard 'Dick' Eastland, the 74-year-old co-owner of Camp Mystic, passed away trying to save the girls. The statement given by the camp also stated that 10 girls and one counsellor are still missing.
Jenna Bush Hager talked about Camp Mystic's director Richard 'Dick' Eastland's legacy
Camp Mystic was founded by E. J. Stewart in 1926, and in 1937 the Stacey family bought the Christian camp. Since then, it has been run by the Staceys. In 1987, Agnes Stacey's grandson Richard 'Dick' Eastland and his wife Tweety Eastland became the camp's directors after Agnes' death.
On Monday's episode of Today with Jenna and Friends, Jenna Bush Hager called the Eastland family "Texas Royalty," saying Richard 'Dick' Eastland had raised the young girls well, and he was known as the girls' "summer father."
"The Eastland family is Texas royalty. They raised so many girls, and his son, who has passed as well, went to Texas, where I went — the University of Texas — but so many of my friends said he was their summer father. He looked out for his campers. He raised girls to be brave and loving, and his legacy will live on," Jenna Bush Hager said.
On July 6, 2025, Richard 'Dick' Eastland's grandson, George Eastland posted a picture with his late grandfather on Instagram. He stated Eastland loved and helped people even when they didn't love him in return.
"You loved others when they didn't love you back, and were so quick to help out when anyone at camp had the slightest inconveniences. Although I am devastated, I can't say I'm surprised that you sacrificed your life with the hopes of someone else's being saved," George Eastland wrote in the caption.
According to the BBC's report, the authorities are using Reaper drones and Black Hawk helicopters to find the missing people.
TOPICS: Jenna Bush Hager, Laura Bush, Texas Flood, Texas flooding