Newly Released 911 Tapes Reveal Harrowing Final Moments in Texas July 4 Floods — Former Firefighter Said He Had 'Five Minutes Left'

911 Recordings Reveal Desperate Calls During Deadly Kerr County Floods

Hundreds of emergency calls released by the Kerr Police Department after the catastrophic July 4 floods in Texas reveal the frightening last moments of people swept up by rising waters. Among the recordings is a calm, heartbreaking call from Bradley Perry, a 49-year-old former volunteer firefighter from League City, who told a dispatcher the tree he had climbed was “starting to lean” and asked if a helicopter was nearby. Perry said he could see his wife and their RV being carried away and added, “I’ve probably got maybe five minutes left.” He did not survive.

What Happened to Bradley and Tina Perry

Perry and his wife, Tina, were camping in an RV near Kerrville when heavy rains swelled waterways in the early hours of July 4. Witnesses told local media that Bradley climbed into a tree as floodwaters swept the RV away; he last communicated with family around 5 a.m. His 20-year-old son later spoke with him and said his father was breathing in a labored way and told him, “I’m in a tree. Your mom is gone. I got to go.”

Tina Perry was later found clinging to a tree and calling for help. She survived but was hospitalized with a broken rib and a punctured lung. A GoFundMe set up by relatives confirmed her recovery while mourning Bradley’s death.

Scope Of The Disaster And Released Calls

The Kerr Police Department released the recordings on Dec. 4, saying the first 911 report of flooding in western Kerr County arrived at 2:52 a.m. Only two 911 personnel were on duty; over the next six hours the department's call center handled 435 calls. Officials warn the released calls are emotionally distressing and that some callers did not survive.

Authorities say the flooding killed more than 130 people across the region. The tapes underscore the confusion and urgency faced by residents and first responders as waters rose. At Camp Mystic — a Christian all-girls sleepaway camp along the Guadalupe River — reporting identified dozens of victims among campers and staff.

Disturbing Calls From Camp Mystic And Nearby Areas

“We are upstairs in a room and the water is rising,” one caller from Camp Mystic told dispatchers. She called again later asking how to reach the roof as water continued to climb. The dispatcher answered, “I don’t know.”

Another caller said she lived a mile from Camp Mystic and had pulled two little girls from the river but feared others were still missing. These recordings, obtained by the Associated Press and reported by multiple outlets, put listeners close to the split-second decisions and desperate pleas for help that night.

Officials’ Response

Kerrville Police Chief Chris McCall said the department released the recordings to provide transparency about the emergency response and to honor those affected, while cautioning the public about their distressing content. The department also reminded the community that support resources are available for those impacted by the tragedy.

Sources: Kerr Police Department release; Associated Press; People; local reporting.