Jenna Bush Hager Fights Tears While Mourning ‘Heartbreaking’ Flood at Texas’ Camp Mystic Where Laura Bush Was a Counselor

Jenna Bush Hager on ‘Today’ on July 7. Credit :

NBC

  • Jenna Bush Hager got emotional on the Today show on Monday, July 7 while discussing the tragic flooding in Texas
  • She shared that her mother, Laura Bush, was previously a counselor at Camp Mystic — the Christian summer camp where 27 campers died in the floods
  • There are still 10 children and one counselor missing from the camp

The devastating flooding in Central Texas has hit very close to home for Jenna Bush Hager

On Monday, July 7, the daughter of former President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush, appeared during the early hours of the Today show to discuss her family’s ties to Camp Mystic, the Christian summer camp, which suffered the loss of 27 young female campers and still has at least 10 others missing. 

“My mom was a counselor there, but also so many of my friends were raised at this camp,” Bush Hager, 43, told co-host Craig Melvin while becoming audibly emotional. “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.” 

Laura Bush and Jenna Bush Hager in 2021. Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty 

The mother of three added that her mom, Laura, was a “drama counselor” at Camp Mystic and shared that “many of my friends had their kids there last week.” 

The Texas native, whose father was previously a governor of Texas, added that the stories she’s heard coming out of Texas have been “beautiful and heartbreaking.” 

“Texas has a type of resilience,” she shared of the state. “They’re generous people, where people want to reach out and help. Texas camps are really special.”

Jenna Bush Hager and Henry Hager pose with their kids Mila, Poppy and Hal Hager. Jenna Bush Hager/Instagram

Bush Hager added that her husband, Henry Hager, had previously questioned why they chose to send their three kids — Mila, 12, Poppy, 9, and Hal, 5 — to Texas camps in the heat of the summer. And Bush Hager replied, “Because of the love that’s there.”

Later in the morning, during Today with Jenna & Friends, Bush Hager added, “My kids actually got dropped off at camp yesterday, another camp in Texas. Putting them on the bus, saying goodbye to them — and I know so many parents whose kids are at camp or going to camp feel that way. We send our kids into the world with the faith that they can happy lives, joyful lives, and as adults we know pain we hope our kids never face it.”

The University of Texas grad also praised the late camp owner Richard “Dick” Eastland, who tragically died while attempting to save campers from the floods. 

First responders attempt to rescue children from Camp Mystic. Danielle Villasana for The Washington Post via Getty 

“That family, the Eastland family, is Texas royalty. They raised so many girls,” Bush Hager said. “So many of my friends said he was their summer father. He looked out for campers. He raised girls to be brave and loving. His legacy will live on.” 

Dick and his wife, Tweety, had been affiliated with camp for about five decades and were the third generation to manage it, PEOPLE previously reported.

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In addition to Laura’s ties to Camp Mystic, several other prominent figures have gone there over the years. 

Former Texas Governor John Connally sent his daughter to the camp, as did former President Lyndon Johnson and his daughters, according to Texas Monthly.

“Lady Bird Johnson used to come to camp closing [ceremonies] when she was very elderly,” Shelby Patterson, a camp alum, told Texas Public Radio

At least 82 people, including 28 children, have died in the floods, according to The Associated Press.

Dozens also remain missing, according to Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, which noted in a Facebook post on Sunday, July 6 that there are 10 Camp Mystic campers still unaccounted for, along with one counselor.

According to CNN, citing state and local officials, rescuers are still searching for at least 41 missing people.

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