Homeowner Brian Olsen was nearing 12 years in Ingram, Texas, when last July’s flash flood upended the life he had built along the river. In that time, Olsen had started a dog boarding business, built a home and seven short-term vacation rentals, and planted nearly 100 blackberry bushes that were set to bear fruit — before the flood swept through.
Everything changed in the early morning hours when floodwaters rushed through his property, taking nearly everything.
Olsen said he received flash flood warnings during the night before the power went out. Around 4 a.m., he went outside to check on the river after a renter called, saying their cabin was already beginning to flood.
“I just instantly had that feeling — it was kind of biblical,” Olsen said. “You just realize that there's hundreds of people that are losing their lives, because it happens so fast, and we never would have guessed.”
The waters rose quickly. By the time Olsen crossed the driveway to check on the cabins, the water had already risen to his ankles. When he made it inside one of the cabins, there was water pouring in through the windows.
Outside, the raging river carried debris past his property.
Olsen said he watched cars, trucks and trees float by in the water — and even saw people swept away, sucked into the relentless river current. In the pitch black, he heard screams. An hour later, as the sun rose, the waters finally began to recede, revealing the scale of the devastation.
“I lost everything,” Olsen said. “I lost my home, my business, my income, my personal belongings, my car … in 45 minutes. Just like that.”
Escaping the flooding cabins was nearly impossible, Olsen said. Now, as rebuilding is in process, he’s making changes designed to improve safety if another flood occurs. The Texans on Mission crew working on his repairs began adding rooms with doorways on the back of the smaller cabins to create possible escape routes into the open fields behind the property.
Despite the destruction, Olsen said the response from volunteers has been overwhelming.
“We're blessed with the help that we're getting,” Olsen said. “It's amazing the amount of volunteers that show up so quickly.”
Brock Russo, one of the student volunteers, said Ingram residents talked of an initial overwhelming aid response to the disaster, which dwindled within a month, with much recovery yet to do. Unlike others, TXM stayed to help past the initial recovery stages.
TXM responded with initial flood recovery work after the floods and has consistently had teams in Kerr County ever since participating in the largest rebuild effort in TXM history.
“It's not only the fact that we're building back, it’s the fact that we're here, we’re present,” Russo said. “It's good for them to see us out here and see us helping, working and praying with them.”
Olsen attested to the chaos and assistance that ensued directly afterwards. He described the first two weeks following the flood as “a mad dash.” Olsen said over 70 volunteers were on his property assisting with rebuilding and cleanups. To have volunteers present and assisting eight months later is more than appreciated, he said.
“The fact that these younger people are willing to do it, it’s a blessing,” Olsen said. “You have to congratulate their parents for raising children that realize how important it is to pitch in.”
Eight months later, TXM volunteers are rebuilding Olsen’s house and hope for the future. He’s able to start focusing on recovering his business. He even has goats, chickens and a miniature Highland cow called “Casper” roaming the property.
“If anybody ever doubts good faith and humanity, they shouldn't, because it is just overwhelming,” Olsen said.