In brief
Five months after catastrophic flooding ravaged Kerr County in Texas, recordings of desperate 911 calls shed light on the chaos and fear experienced by victims. Eyewitness accounts depict heart-wrenching moments as families sought shelter in attics and trees, pleading for urgent rescues while the waters rose rapidly. The devastating flash floods led to tragic losses, including those at Camp Mystic, where 25 campers and two counselors perished.
Amid severe flooding in Texas Hill Country, harrowing 911 calls reveal the panic and desperation of those trapped by rising waters. A man clings to a tree, calling for a helicopter rescue, while another family rushes to seek refuge in their attic as water swallows their home.
On July 4, a devastating flood killed over 100 individuals in a single, hard-hit county, and five months later, hundreds of 911 audio files have surfaced, depicting the terror that enveloped the area.
3:49 a.m.
A caller struggled to communicate the urgent situation as floodwaters overtook his home.
“I need everything sir,” the terrified man narrated. “My house is so flooded. The water is 3 feet up. I’ve got children here. I just need someone to be aware. I am afraid this is all going to go.”
He was advised to seek higher ground, urging his family to move quickly.
3:58 a.m.
At Camp Mystic, a staff member frantically sought assistance from a dispatcher, only to be met with the reality of overwhelming calls.
“There is water everywhere, we cannot move,” she stated, her voice filled with confusion.
The chaos escalated as screams echoed in the background and pleas for rescue became more desperate.
4:19 a.m.
A nearby resident reported finding two little campers washed down the river but admitted uncertainty about how many more were missing.
4:22 a.m.
Another desperate call came from a man trapped in a room, expressing fear as water rose perilously.
4:24 a.m.
At Camp La Junta, a woman inside a crumbling building described her plight to a dispatcher, pleading for immediate help.
4:31 a.m.
A chilling call from a family trapped in an attic revealed their fear of drowning, especially for an infant in their care. “We’re gonna die,” one woman sobbed.
5 a.m.
Firefighter Bradley Perry reported his dire situation as he clung to a leaning tree, fearing both for his life and for his wife, who was swept away.
6:10 a.m.
A frantic mother reported her children trapped inside a rapidly moving RV, demanding immediate assistance. “I need someone here immediately,” she urged, her urgency palpable.
This devastating event highlights the urgent need for improved emergency response metrics to ensure that future tragedies are mitigated more efficiently.
