Texas flood: stories of survival and pleas for help finding missing loved ones | Texas Floods 2025

Reports are beginning to emerge from extraordinary stories of survival of the floods of Texas Hill Country, even though the official death toll continued to rise, reaching at least 27 on Saturday.

A young woman was dramatically rescued after being transported to 12 miles in the Guadalupe river by raging flood waters, then in a photo clinging to the branches of a tree. The woman – who was not identified publicly – was rescued, reported News 4 San Antonio.

Erin Burgess told the point of sale that the rain on Thursday evening and Friday was “quite heavy, but no matter”. She was woken up at the storm at 3:30 am, and the waters around her house in the Bumble Bee Hills district in Kerr County have started to increase.

In 2 minutes, she said, water entered the walls and rushed through the front and rear doors. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree and waiting for the water to move away enough for it to have been able to mount the hill to the house of a neighbor.

“My son and I floated to a tree where we are hanging there, and my boyfriend and my dog ​​floated. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said. She hung on to her 19 -year -old son, Burgess, through the event.

“Fortunately, he measures more than 6 feet. It was the only thing that saved me-was hung on,” she told the point of sale.

In Ingram, Texas, the fiancée of a man described how he died for herself and their children. Christinia Wilson told Texas Khou’s news station that her fiancé, Julian Ryan, had cut an artery in his arm by cutting a window to make it, their children and her mother out of their home while flooding waters rushed early on Friday.

Wilson said that she kept calling emergency aid, but no one could arrive in time to save Ryan.

“He looked at me, the children and my mother-in-law and said,” I’m sorry, I’m not going to get there. I love you all, “said Wilson in Khou.

Ryan’s sister Connie Salas said to the station: “He died a hero, and that will never go unnoticed.”

The officials said that the flood surveillance had been published Thursday afternoon with estimated precipitation, but this was improved in a flood warning for at least 30,000 people overnight. Officials also said that the area around the Guadalupe river, known as the “flood drive”, has no flood alert system.

On Saturday morning, 850 people were saved by emergency services, 167 having been rescued by helicopter.

Devastation triggered a rush to locate up to two dozen children who disappeared from the Mystic camp, a Christian summer camp for girls on the banks of the river, but the missing also include campers who were not connected to this camp.

Among them, four young adults who were heard last time at 4 am on Friday morning when they were trying to reach higher grounds. They were identified by the family like Ella Cahill, Aidan Heartfield, Joyce Badon and Reese Manchaca.

“My little sister, her boyfriend and their two friends are missing because of the flood,” said Mackenzie Hodulik on an article on Facebook. “The last time we heard of them was at 4 am. They were trying to escape home to go to higher ground. ”

Among the confirmed deaths, there were at least nine children, officials said.

On Saturday morning, the other families and children who still lacked include the following. Anyone who sees them or knows where they are is invited to immediately call the authorities.

Deeann and Gary Knetsch

The Knetsch family stayed at HTR RV Park in Kerrville and disappeared after the increase in water.

Megan and Jake Moeller

Moellers also stayed at HTR RV Park in Kerrville and disappeared after the increase in water.

Robert Leroy Brake Sr and Joni Kay Brake

The brake family stayed in a hrt tx campsite cabin in Kerrville. They had not been heard after the floods.

Lainey Landry

Lainey was at the Mystic camp when the flood struck. It has not been heard since. Her parents, Ben and Natalie Landry, shared a photo with the journalist from Khou 11 Amanda Henderson.

Kellyanne Lytal

Kellyanne Lytal was at the Mystic Camp and is still not recognized. His father asked for thoughts and prayers.

Greta Toranzo

Greta Toranzo, a student from the Sinclair Elementary in Houston, was absent from the Mystic camp. Her family asked the school to share her photo while they were looking for her.

Harber family in Hunt, Texas

Jennifer Harber and her brother, RJ, did not hear about the children of RJ, Brooke and Blair, as well as the parents of Jennifer and RJ, Charlene and Mike.

They were in a house in Hunt, Texas, when flood waters took over.

They also look for two dogs: Daisy Mae and Lilly Lou.

Tianna (Ty) Mabey

Tianna Mabey was viewed for the last time around 5 am at the HTR campsite in Kerrville.

Her daughter said her mother’s boyfriend was saved from a tree.

Holly Frizzell

Family members said Holly Frizzell was at home in Casa Bonita when the flood had started. She has not been seen since Friday around 3 am.

Pam and Mike Smith, Brian and Blake Carpenter

Pam family and Mike Smith and Brian and Blake Carpenter asked for help to find them after the devastating floods in the center of Texas. They were known for the last time at home in Casa Bonita.