Kerrville Will Release Hours of Unredacted 911 Calls From Deadly July 4 Floods

Kerrville Police to Release Unredacted 911 Recordings From Devastating July 4 Floods

The Kerrville Police Department said it will release hours of unredacted 911 recordings from the early morning of July 4, when catastrophic flash flooding swept through Texas Hill Country, destroying communities across several counties and killing 136 people.

Police Chief Chris McCall said in a video statement that the recordings are being disclosed in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. He warned the public the audio is "disturbing," may be difficult to hear and could be especially painful for families of victims. News organizations, including CNN, are working to obtain copies of the files.

Just two telecommunications staff were on duty at the Kerrville Police Department's dispatch center when emergency calls began at 2:52 a.m. on July 4. Over the next six hours those operators answered 435 calls, including more than 100 calls between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., Chief McCall said.

To manage the surge, some calls were transferred to a nearby dispatch center — a standard protocol during unusually high call volumes. McCall said dispatchers gathered "the basic critical information" and, when they could offer no further assistance by phone, sometimes faced the agonizing decision to disconnect and move to the next incoming emergency call.

"I’m immensely proud of our telecommunications operators," McCall said, praising their perseverance under extreme pressure as they tried to provide assistance and comfort to every caller.

The City of Kerrville issued a statement acknowledging that the release of the 911 recordings "will bring up strong emotions," but described it as an opportunity to reaffirm the community's unity and resilience as it recovers and rebuilds. McCall also encouraged anyone struggling with the aftermath to seek support; members of the police department have participated in peer-support meetings.

The local emergency response to the floods has faced heavy scrutiny from residents who say officials were unprepared for a sudden, violent weather event that devastated the rolling countryside. Of the 136 people who died, more than 100 were killed in Kerr County after the Guadalupe River surged to roughly 30 feet following what officials described as four months' worth of rain falling in just hours. Homes and popular recreation areas, including several summer camps, were devastated.

Among the dead were 25 girls and two counselors who were swept away from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp on the Guadalupe River's banks. Families of more than a dozen victims have filed lawsuits against the camp and its owners.

In September, Texas lawmakers passed new camp-safety laws intended to close gaps in disaster preparedness by strengthening requirements and streamlining emergency response. Camp Mystic's owners told the Associated Press they plan to exceed the new rules when part of the camp reopens next summer.

Because the recordings are unredacted, officials again cautioned listeners that the audio may be graphic and emotionally difficult. Authorities asked that the public keep callers who did not survive, and their loved ones, in their thoughts and prayers as the community continues to heal.