Devastating Floods Hit Texas Hill Country
The night of July 3 was like any other at the Blue Oak RV Park in Kerrville, Texas. Dozens of people were asleep in their campers, which were lined up along the banks of the Guadalupe River. The sound of the river flowing gently and the steady rain outside created a soothing ambiance. However, little did they know that their peaceful night would soon turn into a nightmare.
The Flood Strikes
Bob Canales, the owner of the RV park, and his wife, Lorena Guillen, were confident that the rain would not cause any significant problems. However, within 45 minutes, the situation took a drastic turn. Emergency responders arrived at 4 a.m. with urgent warnings of a wall of water coming down the Guadalupe River. Canales and his wife sprang into action, pounding on RV doors and shouting to wake everyone up. The campers scrambled to higher ground, but it was too late for some.
A Desperate Rescue Attempt
Canales attempted to rescue the Burgess family, who were trapped on a small river islet. John Burgess, his wife Julia, and their two young boys were stuck, and Canales tried to reach them. He yelled to John to throw him the baby, but John was hesitant, fearing for the child’s safety. Canales pushed forward, but the strong current swept him nearly 100 feet downstream. He managed to grab hold of a retaining wall and pulled himself up, but when he returned, the family was gone.
Aftermath of the Flood
The floodwaters completely decimated the Blue Oak RV Park, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Cars were swept away, and people were screaming for help. Canales watched in horror as the river claimed everything in its path. The next few hours were a blur as he tried to come to terms with what had happened. The Burgess family was found dead on Monday, and their boys are still missing. The couple’s daughter was the only survivor, along with their dog.
Returning to Normalcy
In the days that followed, Canales and his wife worked tirelessly to help with the search and rescue efforts. They opened up their restaurant, Howdy’s, to feed and shelter search crews. The power was out, and propane tanks were gone, but Canales was determined to get back to normal. He even started a karaoke night as a quasi-memorial for one of his employees, Julian Ryan, who died saving his family from the flood.
A Community Comes Together
As the community began to rebuild, Canales realized the importance of returning to a sense of normalcy. He worked with volunteers to clear debris and repair the patio at Howdy’s. The restaurant became a hub for people to come together and share their stories. On Thursday night, the place was bustling with people laughing and playing pool. Canales sat at the bar, reflecting on the past few days, and acknowledged that it was going to take time to heal.
Conclusion
The floods in the Texas Hill Country were a devastating reminder of the power of nature. The loss of life and property was immense, and the community will take time to recover. However, as Bob Canales said, "We’re gonna bounce back. As Texans, we come back stronger than ever, and we’ll do it again. We owe that to the memory of the people that were lost." The resilience and determination of the people affected by the floods will help them rebuild and heal, and they will emerge stronger than ever.
