Carl Jeter was checking for flood damage on his porch in Center Point, Texas, on 4/7 when he heard cries for help. Upon closer inspection, he spotted a young woman perched on a tree branch above the raging floodwaters.
"I’ll get you some help. We’ll definitely get you out of there," he called out to her from his porch.
The 70-year-old Jeter immediately called 911. After 30 minutes with no sign of rescuers, Jeter drove out and flagged down a Department of Public Safety officer. A rescue team with two boats eventually arrived, climbed the tree to give the woman a life jacket, and brought her down to safety.
The woman had been camping with her family along the Guadalupe River in Ingram, Kerr County, when the flood swept her downstream. She was found 32 kilometers from the campsite.
"She went through campers, ice chests, and all kinds of debris. She went over four low-water dams and under bridges before she got here," Jeter said.
Kerr County was the hardest hit area in the Texas floods on 4/7, with at least 43 fatalities and hundreds of evacuations. Jeter described it as the worst flooding he’d ever seen in the flood-prone area.
The woman survived the flood, which caused the Guadalupe River near Jeter’s home to rise eight meters in 45 minutes. After the rescue, Jeter took her inside, made her hot chocolate, and let her take a shower before contacting her family. She was then taken to a local hospital by relatives and stayed overnight.
"It’s a miracle. Not everybody gets out of that situation," he said.
Chris Shadrock, a spokesman for the city of Boerne, confirmed the woman's rescue from the tree but had no information about her condition. He did not release her identity. The fate of her family members remains unknown.
Officials report at least 51 flood-related deaths statewide. Governor Greg Abbott expanded a disaster declaration to more counties and requested additional federal resources from President Donald Trump.
Huyen Le (CNN, KENS5)
