Survivor in Texas Describes the Flooding Ordeal: “The Screams Were Terrifying”

• Devastating Floods Ravage Kerrville, Texas
• Terrifying Screams in Texas
• Search for Missing Continues

Texas continues to count its dead and search for its missing in Kerr County after the devastating floods of the Guadalupe River.

More than a hundred people have died, and at least 150 remain unaccounted for, revealing the magnitude of the tragedy.

The community is in shock as survivors recount moments of terror and the uncertainty that grips the area in the aftermath of the disaster.

Lorena Guillén, a Mexican woman born in San Luis Potosí and a Texas resident for 30 years, shared her experience with CNN.

The Survivors’ Ordeal

@cnnee Lorena Guillén, a resident of #Texas, explained to CNN what the flash floods were like, how she has seen authorities respond, and how she feels in the face of this catastrophe. #cnnenespañol #EstadosUnidos ♬ sonido original – CNN en Español

She has lived in Kerrville for ten years and manages a restaurant and an RV park on the banks of the Guadalupe River.

Guillén describes her business as “a little piece of heaven on earth” that turned into a nightmare in the early morning hours of July 4.

After hours of relentless rain, she stayed in touch with local authorities, monitoring water levels.

But she was awakened by the screams of families being swept away by the violent current.

Texas Floods: Terrifying Accounts

A Texas flood survivor recalls the blood-curdling screams of families trapped in RVs, pounding on windows, and honking their horns as raging floodwaters swept them away. Lorena Guillen, owner of Blue Oak RV Park in Ingram, went door-to-door in the early morning hours on Friday in… pic.twitter.com/OolJLmllWo

— Robbie Mouton (@mcgmouton57) July 8, 2025

“They were terrifying screams. We kept hearing families crying out for help,” Guillén told CNN.

She recounted how she heard the honking of submerged vehicles and saw flashes of lightning illuminating campers floating with people banging on the windows.

The floodplains of the area have for generations been a paradise for campers and families who love nature.

The Guadalupe River has been the heart of the communities of Kerr and Kendall, home to more than 18 youth camps where thousands of children spend their summers.

Authorities Under Scrutiny After the Tragedy

However, this river basin has a known danger: its limestone bed makes it prone to flash floods.

It has been classified as one of the three most dangerous regions in the country for this type of flooding.

In 1987, a flood wave killed 10 teenagers in the same area.

But on July 4 this year, the situation was far more severe and chaotic.

Gap in Alerts

“My husband ran into the water while I was banging on the RV doors to get people out,” Guillén said.

“You could see how the lower part of the land was taking the RVs, and the cars were already floating away,” she added.

Meanwhile, Texas authorities face tough questions about the official response.

Journalists and residents want to know what actions were taken during the critical hours of Friday night.

Uncertain Future for Kerrville After the Texas Flooding

Governor Greg Abbott visited the area on Tuesday and announced that the emergency alert system will be a key topic in a special session of the state legislature.

Five days later, local authorities have still not provided a clear timeline of how decisions were made.

There is a three-hour window in which it’s unclear whether National Weather Service alerts were transmitted in time.

At the summer camps, there’s also controversy over policies that banned cell phones and limited walkie-talkies, making communication more difficult.