Desperate Calls from Texas Flood Survivors Reveal Heartbreak and Heroism

Sat Dec 06 2025 09:37:40 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Over 400 frantic calls to emergency services during a Texas Hill Country flood highlight the desperation of trapped families and the harrowing rescues that followed. At least 117 lives were lost in a disaster that struck during the July Fourth weekend.

As floodwaters surged in Kerr County, Texas, families trapped in cabins made frantic calls for help to emergency dispatchers. The sheer volume of distress calls overwhelmed responders as they tried to coordinate rescues amidst rising waters that claimed at least 117 lives. Survivors recounted harrowing experiences as they sought to save their loved ones and hold onto hope amid chaos.

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Amid the chaos of July Fourth floods, there were countless desperate voices reaching out for help as torrential waters invaded homes and camps. Their pleas, captured on nearly 400 emergency calls, revealed the harrowing struggle for survival that many endured as they sought refuge in the treetops and on rooftops.

A man, clinging to a tree as it succumbed to the raging flood, pleaded for a helicopter rescue that never arrived. His call was one of over 400 that paralyzed emergency dispatchers in Kerr County when devastating floods struck in the early hours of the holiday weekend, resulting in at least 136 lives lost across Texas.

\u201cWe can\u2019t get out of our cabin,\u201d cried a camp counselor overwhelmed as she assisted frightened campers. \u201cHow do we get to the boats?\u201d The chaos around her painted a grim picture of rising panic as families huddled together, facing a terrifying dilemma.

The flooding, notably damaging Cabins and youth camps along the Guadalupe River, prompted a series of frantic calls for help as early as midnight. Many individuals reached out multiple times, detailing their attempts to escape the swift ascent of water. As the morning light broke, the volume of calls surged, with increasingly dire reports of people trapped in trees and on rooftops.

Amidst the tragedy, some were fortunate enough to be rescued. One message that stood out came from a woman near Camp Mystic, where 25 campers and two teenage counselors tragically lost their lives. She described an encounter with two little girls being swept down the river, highlighting the chaotic rescue efforts in an environment that left many feeling helpless.

Emergency dispatchers faced overwhelming volumes of distress calls, forcing them to provide advice and comfort while they simultaneously dispatched rescuers. Survivors climbed to higher ground, revealing the unforgiving nature of the rising floodwaters that caught many off guard, with reports indicating that some officials were unaware of the impending disaster.

As reported, every camper at Camp La Junta was ultimately rescued, a small miracle amid a tragedy that saw families torn apart by the relentless nature of the floods. As relief efforts continue, the recovery from this devastating event will be etched in the lives of those who experienced it.