The screams echoed through the darkness as a thunderstorm battered the Guadalupe River area, where residents faced rising waters and panic on the early morning of July 4. The relentless rain had begun the night before, but it was the lightning and thunder that kept many awake, illuminating the chaos around them.
As the river swelled to unprecedented levels, families witnessed alarming scenes, such as furniture floating in neighboring homes and animals rushing past windows, which were actually logs and debris. The night was marked by desperation as people awoke to find themselves trapped by the fast-rising water, with some reporting that strangers were banging on their doors for help.
In the vicinity of Marymeade Drive and the River Inn Resort, tragedy unfolded as Camp Mystic, an overnight camp for girls, became a site of sorrow, with at least 27 campers and counselors losing their lives in the flood. The storm was described as a "perfect storm," with a stalled weather cell causing severe flooding in the dead of night, a stark contrast to a previous flood in 1932 that occurred during daylight hours.
Accounts of heroism and survival emerged amidst the tragedy. A couple attempted to escape in their car but became trapped as the water rose. Families scrambled for safety, with some clinging to trees and others navigating through waist-deep water in the dark. Many were forced to seek refuge on rooftops as the river continued to rise.
Scott Towery, the general manager of the River Inn, and his wife, Connie, played crucial roles in alerting guests to the danger. They knocked on doors, urging residents to evacuate as the water began to flood the resort. Despite their efforts, many were confused and slow to react, leading to escalating panic as the conditions worsened.
Among the guests were the Killian family, who had arrived for the holiday weekend. They were unprepared for the rapid onset of disaster, with water quickly flooding their temporary home. The family fought to escape as debris swirled around them, and they ultimately managed to reach higher ground, though not without significant loss.
As dawn broke, the water began to recede, revealing the extent of the devastation. Stories of loss and survival continued to unfold, highlighting the harrowing experiences of those affected by the flood and the community's resilience in the face of such a disaster.