Key Takeaways
- The Kerrville Police Department released 911 calls from the July 4 floods in Texas Hill Country, which killed at least 117 people.
- The recordings reveal the desperation and panic of those trapped in the floodwaters, with many callers pleading for help as the water rose.
- The floods affected two children’s camps, Camp Mystic and Camp La Junta, where 25 girls and two counselors were swept away at Camp Mystic.
- The local emergency response to the flooding was heavily scrutinized, with allegations that local officials were unprepared for the weather event.
- New camp safety laws have been enacted in Texas to address gaps in disaster preparedness.
Introduction to the Floods
The deadly catastrophic floods that swept across Texas Hill Country in the early hours of July 4 brought heartbreaking pleas for help to the Kerrville Police Department’s Telecommunications Center. The recordings, released by the Kerrville Police Department, are a harrowing portrait of a night when the water rose faster than help could reach. The earliest calls feel almost like premonitions, fragile voices that foreshadow the terror that would soon sweep across the Hill Country. They begin with an eerie calm — soft-spoken warnings from residents who sensed the rising water but could not yet see the catastrophe gathering in the dark.
The 911 Calls
The 911 calls are a testament to the desperation and panic of those trapped in the floodwaters. Callers pleaded for rescue while dispatchers, repeating the same urgent directive to get to higher ground, struggled to keep their voices steady. The calls grow darker as the night deepens, each voice trembling more than the last. One call came from a man who woke to the rush of water in his apartment, crying, screaming, and begging for help. Another call came from a man stuck in a tree, who believed his wife was dead and was freaking out. The recordings are a powerful reminder of the human cost of the flood and the bravery of those who fought to survive.
The Impact on Children’s Camps
The floods had a devastating impact on two children’s camps, Camp Mystic and Camp La Junta. At Camp Mystic, 25 girls and two counselors were swept away by the floodwaters. The first call from Camp Mystic came at 3:57 a.m., an astonishingly calm voice reporting that some campers were stranded on a hill while cabins across the bridge were already filling with water. Another caller, confused and frantic, explained that their cabins were flooding while terrified voices and screams echoed in the background. The families of more than a dozen Camp Mystic victims have filed lawsuits against the camp and its owners, alleging that the camp was unprepared for the flood and that the owners were negligent in their response.
The Emergency Response
The local emergency response to the flooding was heavily scrutinized, with allegations that local officials were unprepared for the weather event. The dispatchers at the Kerrville Police Department Telecommunications Center answered a total of 435 calls over the next six hours, including more than 100 between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. The police chief, Chris McCall, said that the dispatchers did their best to provide assistance and comfort to every caller, but that they faced a difficult decision to disconnect and move on to the next call when they could no longer help over the phone. The City of Kerrville has acknowledged that the 911 calls’ release will bring up strong emotions, but that it presents another moment to affirm the community’s resilience and determination to recover and rebuild.
Aftermath and Rebuilding
In the aftermath of the flood, the community has come together to support those affected. A candlelight vigil was held in San Antonio on July 7, 2025, to honor the victims of the flood. The local government has also taken steps to address gaps in disaster preparedness, enacting new camp safety laws aimed at strengthening requirements and streamlining the emergency response. The owners of Camp Mystic have said that they plan to exceed these requirements when a portion of the camp reopens next summer. The tragedy of the July 4 floods will not be forgotten, and the community will continue to work towards rebuilding and recovering from this devastating event.