BOERNE, Texas – As floodwaters recede across Boerne, many families are facing the heartbreaking task of rebuilding after rising water swept through homes, destroyed personal belongings and forced residents to start over.
For Destinee Perez, the devastation became clear within minutes.
Perez was home with her 9-month-old son and their dogs at the Legacy at Cibolo apartment complex when heavy rain sent floodwaters rushing toward the property last Wednesday.
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Looking out her window, she watched the water climb higher and higher until it reached the balcony outside her apartment.
Her husband rushed home from work and helped the family evacuate through knee-deep water.
“Everything is ruined,” Perez said. “The water came almost knee-high. We’ve already thrown away two truckloads. There’s mold spores on everything, everything smells awful, and it’s just not worth saving.”
The flood destroyed childhood mementos, wedding photos, clothing, furniture and countless other personal belongings. The family has since filled two dumpsters with damaged items and is now searching for a new place to live.
Despite the overwhelming loss, Perez said she’s grateful her family made it out safely.
“I realize that I’d rather have my family’s safety, and it’s okay to say goodbye to things,” she said. “These are all replaceable, but it’s definitely hard to let go.”
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Perez said the water rose about 6 inches in just three minutes, damaging numerous apartments and vehicles throughout the complex.
Just a couple of miles away, Jeremy Pratt experienced a similar nightmare as floodwaters quickly surrounded his home.
A time-lapse video captured the water rapidly swallowing his backyard before it began pouring inside.
“I said a little prayer to God and said, ‘Lord, I don’t ask a lot of you, but if I could ask for a little help right now… uncle, uncle, stop,'” Pratt recalled.
Soon after, he realized the flooding was becoming dangerous.
“We started seeing water coming into the house,” Pratt said. “I noticed the fence back there had broken open, and a wall of water had rushed up and begun getting into the house.”
Pratt and his family escaped safely before checking on neighbors to make sure everyone else was okay.
Now, as the flood cleanup continues across Boerne, families like the Perezes and Pratts are focused on picking up the pieces.
“It’s just a matter of getting contractors in to get our life back to normal and get things restored,” Pratt said.