Rescuers save lives during Central Texas Floods

Among the countless stories of loss are accounts of bravery and sacrifice.

(CNN)- More than a hundred people are confirmed dead following catastrophic floods that tore through Central Texas — a disaster that has left communities shattered and grieving. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. reflected on the personal toll: “I’ve lost two friends. We left them, and they’re gone.”

Among the countless stories of loss are powerful accounts of bravery and sacrifice. One of the victims was a father who died saving his family.
“They were swept into a tree,” said Travis Reynolds, who lost multiple family members. “Joel held onto ’em and prayed over his family and did his very best to hang on as long as he could.”

At a devastated RV park, the owner recalled frantically banging on doors, urging residents to evacuate. Her husband narrowly survived being swept away in the floodwaters.
Lorena Guillén, a flood survivor, recounted a heartbreaking moment: “The father was walking towards us with his two babies in his arms, and my husband keeps yelling at him, ‘Throw your baby, throw your baby at me!’ And at that point, a big wave came by, and they both got swept away.”

Survivors from riverside camps say counselors saved lives by acting quickly.
“They moved the boys from their lower bunks to the upper bunks, and then ultimately hoisted them into the rafters,” said Keli Rabon, whose sons survived the flooding.

At Camp Mystic, where more than two dozen children and counselors perished, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan played a crucial role in rescuing others. Initially the only first responder on the ground, Ruskan helped save 165 children — even giving up his spot in a helicopter to make room for more.
“Any of the rescue swimmers in the Coast Guard would have done the exact same thing,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything this tragic in my life.”