In a recent interview on WCPT 820 Chicago with host Richard Chew, national bestselling author William Elliott Hazelgrove provided listeners with a first glimpse into the extensive reporting behind his forthcoming book, The Camp Mystic Flood: A Story of Tragedy and Heroism, set for release by Bloomsbury on July 8, 2027. The interview, now available online, delved into the harrowing details of the catastrophic July 4, 2025 flood that claimed 146 lives in the Texas Hill Country, including 27 young campers at Camp Mystic.
Hazelgrove, known for his narrative nonfiction, emphasized that the book is not about assigning blame but rather about telling the complete story of the disaster. During the interview, he recounted his months of on-the-ground research, which included traveling the Guadalupe River with first responders, walking the flood zone, and interviewing survivors and rescuers. He also examined thousands of pages of investigative reports, emergency communications, and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct the events minute by minute.
The book explores several critical aspects of the tragedy, including the rapid rise of the Guadalupe River before dawn, the final hours inside Camp Mystic as counselors and campers struggled to survive, and the extraordinary rescues performed by Coast Guard helicopter crews, first responders, neighbors, and ordinary Texans. Hazelgrove also investigates how one of America's worst freshwater disasters unfolded despite modern forecasting technology, and he examines the legislative investigations, lawsuits, and lasting impact on Texas summer camps.
"This is not a book about assigning blame," Hazelgrove said. "It is the story of what happened, why it happened, and the extraordinary courage shown by so many people in the darkest hours of that morning." His approach aims to honor the memory of those lost while providing a comprehensive account that could help prevent future tragedies.
Hazelgrove is the author of more than two dozen books, including Capone's Vault, Henry Knox's Noble Train, and Evil on the Roof of the World. His work has been featured by The New York Times, USA Today, NPR, and C-SPAN Book TV, among other outlets. The complete WCPT interview is now available online, offering listeners an early look at the research and reporting behind the book.
