KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Desperation filled the air during the July Fourth weekend last summer as many families were caught in the chaos of rising floodwaters in Kerr County, Texas. Over 400 911 calls revealed the frantic pleas for help, where many residents sought safety on rooftops and in trees, while others faced impending doom in their cabins.
A harrowing experience unfolded when one man, stuck high in a tree, implored dispatchers for a helicopter that never arrived. His voice, along with those of countless others, was among the recorded cries for help released on Friday, as the community reflected on that dark night.
The swift waters overwhelmed two county dispatchers, leading to chaotic rescue operations while cabins and youth camps along the Guadalupe River became submerged.
There’s water filling up super fast, we can’t get out of our cabin, a counselor frantically reported.
Amazingly, all campers at Camp La Junta were rescued despite the chaos. However, the flooding wreaked havoc across Texas, claiming at least 136 lives, with 117 deaths in Kerr County alone.
The aftermath has raised questions about the adequacy of warning systems, as many in the Texas Hill Country reported receiving no warnings prior to the flooding. Some leaders admitted to being asleep during the crucial initial hours of the disaster.
The flood's toll is further illustrated in the despair of those who didn't survive. One woman's call recounted pulling two little girls from the river while expressing uncertainty about others missing.
As the sun rose after the storm, calls flooded in about survivors stranded in trees and homes. Many families, moving to higher ground to escape the swelling waters, repeatedly called, and some cried out from rooftops asking when help would arrive.
Emergency dispatchers worked tirelessly to provide advice and comfort to those trapped, informing them to seek shelter on rooftops or higher ground as they faced life-threatening situations.
As the investigations continue and the community heals, the chilling recordings serve as a reminder of the fragility of life amidst nature's fury and the urgent need to enhance flood response strategies.
