Michael Abner said Blue Oak RV Park owner Lorena Guillena woke them up on July 4, right before their RV floated down the Guadalupe River.
INGRAM, Texas — When the deadly Hill Country floods hit Kerr County, several people sprang into action to save lives.
Lorena Guillen and her husband ran to every RV they could in their park to alert people to the danger they were in the morning of July 4.
Now, one of the families the couple saved is back in Ingram at their campground, looking to help in any way they can to restore the beloved campground when the time is right.
Michael Abner and Guillen are thankful to be walking to the banks of the Guadalupe River together.
“[Abner] is one of my residents. Well, was one of my residents,” Guillen said.
Abner spends half his time in Kerr County. He specifically will usually be at Guillen’s Blue Oak RV Park.
Two weeks after the deadly July 4 floods, the damage left behind — water in the campgrounds and nearby search crews — is hard to grasp.
“God, this was so beautiful. All of the green grass was right here where the water is right now. I can’t believe the water is so high still,” Abner said.
Abner takes us to where his RV was sitting, with him inside, when Guillen banged on his door to tell him to evacuate.
She and her husband helped save nearly every family at their campground when the flood came rushing at them. They tell us first responders were in the water trying to reach a family, but the current was too much for even boats.
“So, you don’t think you would’ve realized the extent of the danger you were in if Lorena hadn’t knocked on your door?” KHOU 11 Reporter Amanda Henderson asked Abner.
“No, I mean I was asleep, totally asleep at 5:00 in the morning,” Abner said.
Abner provided us videos showing his lot in the hours during and after the floodwaters rushed through the area and RVs were swept away.
We are now getting a look at his RV’s parking area two weeks after the damage.
All that was left was a field, concrete slab and several limestone blocks thrown across the campground. Abner said it was a retention wall, and he was among the tallest locations, which is why seeing water up where he was shocked him.
“How far away would you say we are from the Guadalupe where we’re standing?” Henderson asked while Abner showed us his RV’s location.
“Well, you can see… God, I have to say at least a football field,” Abner said.
Abner said he plans to closely watch the state’s special session next week.
“What do you hope you hear from that session?” Henderson asked.
“That they’re going to put these sirens in,” Abner said.
Abner said he plans to make frequent visits to check in on Guillen and help her with what she needs to rebuild the campground.
“Every time I look at this I’m just like how are we going to do this? How?” Guillen asked.
Guillen said there’s no flood insurance on her land and will have to fix electrical, plumbing, sewer and the ramps.
“That’s the thing that impresses me the most. A lot of my residents, just like Michael, they’re like we’re coming back once it’s ready,” Guillen said.
Coming back to stand here together near the banks of the Guadalupe River.
“You said, ‘she saved my life and I’m going to help her rebuild,'” Henderson said.
“It’s a fact,” Abner said.