Tragic Flooding in Kerrville, Texas: Survivors Recall Desperation for Rescue

Sat Dec 06 2025 19:10:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the wake of the catastrophic Texas flooding that claimed over 100 lives, recordings of 911 calls reveal harrowing pleas for help from trapped residents, including those from Camp Mystic.

The Texas Hill Country experienced devastating flooding last summer, resulting in more than 100 fatalities. Survivors’ 911 calls highlight the urgency and desperation of individuals trapped in rising waters, particularly at Camp Mystic, where several campers lost their lives. Local leaders face criticism for their emergency response as many residents reported a lack of warning prior to the disaster.

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Texas residents trapped by catastrophic flooding last summer pleaded for water rescues and staffers at Camp Mystic begged for direction on how to escape rushing waters during the floods that killed more than 100 people, according to recordings of 911 calls released Friday.

Emergency dispatchers in rural Kerr County fielded more than 400 calls during the six hours when floods began to overwhelm the region overnight on the July Fourth holiday.

“There is water everywhere, we cannot move. We are upstairs in a room and the water is rising,” said a woman who called from Camp Mystic, a century-old summer camp for girls, where 25 campers and two teenage counselors died. “If the water will be higher than the room, what should we do?”

The same woman called back later.

“How do we get to the roof if the water is so high? Can you already send someone here? With the boats?” she asked, desperately seeking assistance.

She asked the dispatcher when help would arrive.

“I don’t know. I don’t know,” the dispatcher responded.

The flooding killed at least 136 people statewide, with victims ranging from ages 1 to 91, many of whom were from Texas, but others came from as far as Alabama, California, and Florida, according to a list released by Kerr County officials.

Many residents in the hard-hit Texas Hill Country have stated they were caught off guard and didn’t receive any warning when the floods struck that night.

Kerr County leaders have faced scrutiny regarding their response, admitting that two officials were asleep while a third was out of town during the initial hours of the emergency.

The Associated Press, among other outlets, filed requests for the release of these 911 recordings.

In a poignant call, a woman in a community of cabins reported, “We are flooding, and we have people in cabins we can’t get to. We are flooding almost all the way to the top.” The faint echoes of children’s voices can be heard in the background as she spoke slowly, seeking help.

Through recordings of first responder communications, weather service warnings, survivor testimonies, and other materials, the Associated Press created a timeline of the chaotic rescue effort.