KERRVILLE, Texas (RTW News) — Emergency calls released on Friday depict a terrifying situation faced by residents during last summer’s catastrophic flooding in Texas. Many were caught off guard, leading to over 400 frantic 911 calls made within just six hours as floodwaters began to overwhelm the area during the July Fourth holiday weekend.
In one distressing call, a woman from Camp Mystic—a century-old summer camp—described the rapidly rising waters, imploring dispatchers for guidance on how to reach safety. She can be heard asking for directions to the roof as flood levels climbed dangerously high.
The flood resulted in 136 fatalities across the state, affecting individuals aged from one to ninety-one, including victims from outside Texas, such as Alabama, California, and Florida.
Many residents reported a lack of adequate warning from local authorities, leading to increased scrutiny toward Kerr County leaders about their emergency preparedness. In testimony to Texas legislators, several officials admitted to being unprepared, with some asleep during the initial hours of the disaster.
With heartbreaking calls recorded, including pleas from parents worried about stranded children, the events have drawn attention to the need for improved emergency response systems in vulnerable areas.
In one distressing call, a woman from Camp Mystic—a century-old summer camp—described the rapidly rising waters, imploring dispatchers for guidance on how to reach safety. She can be heard asking for directions to the roof as flood levels climbed dangerously high.
The flood resulted in 136 fatalities across the state, affecting individuals aged from one to ninety-one, including victims from outside Texas, such as Alabama, California, and Florida.
Many residents reported a lack of adequate warning from local authorities, leading to increased scrutiny toward Kerr County leaders about their emergency preparedness. In testimony to Texas legislators, several officials admitted to being unprepared, with some asleep during the initial hours of the disaster.
With heartbreaking calls recorded, including pleas from parents worried about stranded children, the events have drawn attention to the need for improved emergency response systems in vulnerable areas.
