The serene calm of the Texas Hill Country was shattered in the early hours of July 4th, when devastating floods engulfed the region, claiming 136 lives. Recently declassified 911 recordings from the Kerrville Police Department's Telecommunications Center offer a minute-by-minute, harrowing account of the catastrophe that unfolded along the Guadalupe River.
A Symphony of Desperation
What began as a handful of apprehensive calls quickly escalated into sheer pandemonium. Emergency dispatchers were overwhelmed by over 400 pleas for help that night in Kerr County. Voices filled with terror recounted water levels rising rapidly, trapping families, campers, and even first responders.
One chilling call captured a firefighter, Bradley Perry, clinging to a tree, his wife swept away, as he calmly stated, “The tree I’m in is starting to lean and it’s going to fall. Is there a helicopter close? I’ve probably got maybe five minutes left.” Perry did not survive, though his wife Tina was later found alive.
Other desperate scenarios included a family breaking through their roof to escape the deluge, a woman stranded at an all-girls camp as swirling currents closed in, and a camp counselor at Camp La Junta frantically asking how to reach boats as their cabin rapidly filled with water. Fortunately, all occupants of that specific cabin were rescued.
The Grim Toll
The human toll was immense, with at least 136 fatalities reported statewide during the holiday weekend. A staggering 117 of these deaths occurred in Kerr County alone. While most victims were Texans, residents from Alabama, California, and Florida were also among the lost. The tragedy struck particularly hard at Camp Mystic, a venerable girls’ summer camp, where 25 campers and two teenage counselors perished.
Questions of Preparedness
The floods were triggered by exceptional rainfall that caused the Guadalupe River to overflow without prior warning. Questions have since been raised regarding the adequacy of alerts issued before the disaster. Reports indicate that two county officials were asleep during the critical initial hours, and a third was out of town.
Harrowing Rescues and Last Pleas
As daylight broke, the volume of distress calls continued to surge. Dispatchers, maintaining composure amidst the chaos, advised callers to seek higher ground or rooftops. A poignant call from Camp Mystic described the scene: “There is water everywhere, we cannot move. We are upstairs in a room and the water is rising,” followed by a desperate query, “How do we get to the roof if the water is so high? Can you already send someone here? With the boats?” The dispatcher’s reply underscored the overwhelming helplessness: “I don’t know. I don’t know.”
First responders and volunteers valiantly utilized boats and emergency vehicles for rescues, with many survivors found clinging to trees and rooftops. Kerrville Police Chief Chris McCall cautioned that some audio content is deeply disturbing, containing calls from individuals who ultimately did not survive the night. These recordings stand as a stark reminder of the immense power of nature and the sudden, terrifying reality faced by those caught in its path.
