Hundreds of 911 calls from the catastrophic flooding that inundated parts of the Texas Hill Country on July 4 have been released, revealing the horror and devastation that turned a national holiday into a tragedy.
The audio of the calls to be released would be distressing, Kerrville Police Chief Chris McCall said Thursday.
“Some callers did not survive,” he said in a video announcing that the audio would be released. “We ask that you keep them and their family members, loved ones and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”
The Kerrville Police Department said the calls were being released in compliance with Freedom of Information Act requests from eight media outlets.
Station Acuna Mexico performs search and rescue operations in the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic on July 10 in Hunt, Texas.Brandon Bell / Getty Images file
Over 130 people were killed after slow-moving thunderstorms triggered dangerous flash flooding and caused the Guadalupe River to rapidly rise, surging more than 20 feet within 90 minutes.
The floods inundated Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for young girls and killed at least 27 campers and camp counselors. The deluge hit Kerr County hard, as well as Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties.
Stories emerged from the natural disaster of campers and counselors swept away, bodies found in vehicles, buildings and homes destroyed, and families searching for days for loved ones.
Children’s belongings piled up outside buildings at Camp Mystic on July 7 in Hunt, Texas. Brandon Bell / Getty Images file
The calls began at 2:52 a.m. on July 4, McCall said. There were two people staffing the Kerrville Police Department’s 911 center, which is the primary answering point for all 911 calls in Kerr County, when the calls began, he said.
Over the next six hours, the center answered 435 calls to 911 as the disaster unfolded, McCall said. Between just 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., it answered 106 such calls.
McCall said the staffers who took the calls “showed incredible perseverance.” After helping all they could, they “were faced with the difficult decision to disconnect and move on to the next call,” he said.
McCall on Thursday called on people to seek help for themselves or others who may be having a difficult time.
“As our community continues to recover, please make sure you’re taking care of yourself emotionally,” he said. “I’m proud of the strength and resiliency shown by our community in the wake of this tragedy, and the care and comfort we have shown for those lost.”
“Remember, Kerrville: We are stronger together,” he said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.