by A few blocks from Kerrville, Texas’s downtown, Matthew Stone’s home on Guadalupe Street is identical to the others. Mr. Stone’s porch is a few inches higher than his neighbors’, though, so that’s one distinction. The sudden flood on July 4 left him alone, haunted but dry, because of that little advantage.
Mr. Stone, 44, recalls hearing people yelling for assistance as the flood swept them downstream in front of his house.
Kerrville, a 25,000-person city that has developed into a center for search and recovery efforts along the Guadalupe River, was spared the worst of the flood’s effects, although certain areas of the city were completely destroyed. Residents will need to rely on well water for at least the next few weeks because to the substantial damage to the city water plant. Dozens of homes were also demolished in the streets closest to the river. According to Kerrville Police Department Sergeant Jonathan Lamb, 200 people were evacuated from residences and automobiles.
By Tuesday, five bodies had been discovered on the riverbed near Mr. Stone’s house, and on Wednesday afternoon, a sixth was recovered. At least one campground on the outskirts of the city has a large number of missing persons. According to municipal officials on Tuesday, parks staff evacuated another riverfront campground early on July 4 after tents, RVs, and cabins were flooded shortly after.
In one terrifying rescue, a policeman used a garden hose to anchor himself by wrapping it around his waist. Two other officers grabbed the hose and rushed into the rushing water to save two trapped individuals who were clinging to a tree.
People, At a news conference on Wednesday, Sgt. Lamb stated, “I don’t know how many lives our K.P.D. team saved in an hour in Kerrville.” There was so much worse that could have happened.
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