Patrick Breedlove, a local resident, was among those who witnessed the fury of the storms that swept through Central Texas. He had been staying nearby when the severe weather hit.
The Experience of Being Trapped by the Flood
Breedlove recalls how the weather worsened rapidly. “Some of us were in tiny homes and some of us were in RVs, and it rained most of the week. On Thursday night at 6 p.m., the rain started coming down really hard,” he said. The group hunkered down, hoping the storm would pass.
The situation worsened as floodwaters began to rise. “The road is starting to flood, and then about 4 o’clock the next day, it finally stopped, and they were warning us we couldn’t leave because the roads were shut off,” Breedlove continued. Thankfully, they remained safe, but the trauma of the storm wasn’t over yet.
The Heartbreaking News of Missing People
By Saturday morning, as they tried to process the storm’s aftermath, Breedlove and his group began seeing reports of missing people, many of whom were connected to Camp Mystic, where young girls had been swept away in the floodwaters.
The emotional impact of the news deepened when they learned that Texas country music star Pat Green, whom they were supposed to see in concert that night, had tragically lost his younger brother in the flood. “We were all just completely devastated,” Breedlove shared.
“We couldn’t believe it, and it’s all we talked about Saturday until we left on Sunday. We all had our kids at camps like that growing up, and you would never think anything like that would happen.”
The Community’s Efforts to Help
Amid the heartbreak, the local community is finding ways to help those affected by the disaster. Guitars & Growlers, a local restaurant and bar, has taken the initiative to gather donations.
Breedlove praised the establishment, saying, “This restaurant, bar is such a neighborhood bar, and when they do something, everybody comes together.”
Baker, another local, expressed gratitude for the sense of community. “I feel very blessed to be a part of especially this community and seeing everybody want to help is incredible,” he said.
As the donations continue to come in, everything will be packed up and driven straight to Central Texas by Friday at 12 p.m. The community’s spirit of generosity and support continues to shine brightly in the face of tragedy.
