A man clinging to a tree on the Guadalupe River and screaming for rescue. A frantic father ushering his family into the attic as waters rise. A Camp Mystic staff member desperately pleading for immediate help. These are just a few of the harrowing scenes captured through audio recordings of 911 calls released five months after the catastrophic flooding that killed over 100 individuals in Kerr County, Texas.
The flood struck on July 4, and the released calls provide a chilling snapshot of the fear and urgency that accompanied this devastating event.
At 3:49 a.m., a caller from a home near the river described the dire situation to a dispatcher:
“My house is so flooded. The water is three feet up. I’ve got children here. I need someone to be aware. I am afraid this is all going to go.”
The dispatcher urged him to get as high as possible. In another chilling call at 3:58 a.m., from a woman at Camp Mystic, the dispatcher informed her crews were overwhelmed with flood-related emergencies:
“We’re fielding tons of calls about flooding. Try to get to higher ground.” But the woman's plea echoed desperation: “If the water is higher than the room, what should we do?”
More voices joined the chaos, with updates coming in rapidly. A nearby resident communicated to emergency services that they found two little girls drifting down the river, while another described being trapped in her building as it deteriorated under the flooding pressure.
At 5 a.m., firefighter Bradley Perry, stranded in a leaning tree, recalled seeing his wife swept away and urgently requested a helicopter, fearing imminent death. “I’ve probably got maybe five minutes left and I’m dead,” he said. The dispatcher assured him help was on the way.
These 911 calls are a haunting reminder of the wrath of nature and the struggle of individuals during this tragic flooding crisis. Nearly 25 lives were lost at Camp Mystic, including two teenage counselors and the camp owner, showcasing the profound impact of this disaster on the community.
