A dramatic video captured the moment helicopter rescue teams lifted a girl, her family, and two dogs from devastating floods that have claimed at least two lives in Texas.
This footage, shared by Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday, depicts rescue workers arriving at a flooded property in Uvalde the day before, following nearly 30 inches of rainfall over three days.
The video shows paramedics placing a visibly frightened girl in a rescue vest before she was hoisted from the home, while two adults and the dogs looked on anxiously.
“Texans in the affected areas need to stay alert, keep an eye on local forecasts, heed guidance from officials, and avoid high water,” Abbott’s Facebook post accompanying the video stated. “Remember, turn around and don’t drown.”
This destructive storm resulted in almost 30 inches of rainfall in south-central Texas over a short period.
During a press conference on Thursday, Abbott reported that 2,350 emergency responders and 1,400 vehicles had been mobilized for rescue efforts.
He confirmed that one individual was swept away while driving on a road near Uvalde.
The Uvalde Police Department mentioned that the unidentified 74-year-old man ignored warnings from law enforcement to stay off the roads.
The second victim, identified as 65-year-old John Mark Steward, lost his life in Kerr County.
His wife, Jenny Steward, revealed she was visiting family when a neighbor informed her of her husband’s disappearance.
The floodwaters rose to the door of their mobile home, eventually sweeping him into Goat Creek in the Guadalupe River.
“It’s really painful that I wasn’t there with him,” Jenny remarked, sharing that their last conversation was a phone call on Wednesday to mark their third wedding anniversary.
By Friday, floodwaters had receded in some of the most affected areas; however, heavy rainfall continued to elevate water levels in other regions of Texas, according to reports.
Forecasters cautioned residents in central Texas about potential life-threatening flooding and advised seeking higher ground.
