Communities across Texas were hit hard after flash floods swept through the state on July 4. The rain came so fast that a month’s worth fell in just hours, pushing the Guadalupe River up to 26 feet.
Officials say at least 50 people have died so far, including 15 children. One of the hardest hit places was Kerr County, where a man died saving his family. That man was 27-year-old Julian Ryan. He lived in Ingram with his fiancée, their two young kids, and his mother.
When the floodwaters came rushing in at 4am, the family woke up and took shelter in the bedroom. Julian smashed a window to get them out, but in doing so, he cut his arm badly.
His fiancée Christina Wilson said he almost cut it “clean off.” She said he helped them get onto the roof, but he had lost so much blood by then.
She told the local news: “By 6 o’clock my husband was dead, he had lost all of his blood. He looked at me and the kids, my mother in law and said ‘sorry I’m not going to make it, I love ya’ll’.”
Christina said she found his body once the water started going down, but no one came to recover him for hours. His mom called him “the hero of this story.”
The family believes things could have gone differently if flood sirens had gone off. They want more action taken so this doesn’t happen to others.
Col. Freeman Martin from the Texas Department of Public Safety said: “We brought in over 100 troopers this morning. And they’ve worked all day, rescues, high water vehicles, boats, rescue divers, seven rescue helicopters with hoist capabilities.”
Governor Greg Abbott said: “We will stop at nothing to ensure that every asset and person and plane, whatever is needed, is going to be involved in the process of rescuing every last person and ensure everybody involved in this is going to be fully accounted for.”
President Trump also called it a “terrible thing.” He said: “It looks like some young people have died,” and promised that help would be coming to Texas.
