Texas Hill Country Flooding: New 911 Calls Uncover Panic and Despair

In the aftermath of the devastating flooding in Texas Hill Country, new emergency calls have shed light on the chaos and desperation experienced during the crisis. Over 400 calls flooded into emergency services as people found themselves trapped in increasingly dangerous situations—some stuck in their homes, at summer camp huts, or even clinging to trees. Many callers were reaching out multiple times, emphasizing the urgency of their circumstances.

One caller reported, “We’re fine, but we live about a mile down the road from Camp Mystic. We’ve already had two little girls float down the river, and we’ve helped them, but we’re worried about how many more might be out there.”

Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp on the Guadalupe River, tragically lost 25 campers and two teenage counselors due to the flooding. The camp’s longtime director, Dick Eastland, lost his life while trying to save campers.

Britt Eastland, the camp’s co-director and Dick’s son, also made a call to 911, urgently requesting National Guard assistance as around 40 people were reported missing.

“Super fast!” shouted a counselor from Camp La Junta as screams from campers echoed in the background while water surged into the hut. Thankfully, all campers at the cabin were rescued, according to reports.

In a more distressing call, a woman described her terrifying situation, trapped in a house with two elderly individuals, pleading for help as fear filled her voice.

Another caller relayed that people were taking refuge in attics and on rooftops, seeking to escape the rising waters, while some were floating and crying out for assistance. “I think there are people floating in the water screaming for help, but we can’t reach them,” she said, desperately inquiring if any helicopters were in the area to assist them.

The dispatcher reassured her that help was on the way, though admitted the rising waters were slightly hindering rescue efforts.

One firefighter, Bradley Perry, calmly relayed his precarious situation, emphasizing that the tree he was in appeared to be leaning dangerously. Tragically, Perry did not survive the flooding, becoming one of over 130 victims of the catastrophic Fourth of July floods. His wife, however, was later discovered alive, clinging to a tree.

This disaster continues to cast a long shadow over the community as families and friends mourn their loved ones lost to the floods.