Feature Story- First Draft

The first sign of trouble was the abnormally loud rushing water outside the balcony door. In the dark the homeowner couldn't see much, but at second glance, he could see it. The water in the creek below his home was up thirty feet, it was about to flood into his house and destroy everything he knew. He took what he could and he and his wife fled to safety in the middle of the night.

On Memorial weekend in the small Texas town of Wimberley, a flood created damage unlike anything seen in twenty years. It washed away hundreds of homes, and damaged many more. The fifty foot flood waters killed twelve people and left many desperate for support.

Many like one homeowner Jimmy Ash, a Wimberley native and business owner. Ash's house is directly above Cypress creek, and just a short walk from the Blanco River, where chaos struck. At one in the morning Ash's wife Linda heard an unsettling sound, little did Ash know the sound his wife heard would send them both fleeing.

"We were sound asleep, Linda woke me up and said "Is there someone in the house?" I didn't hear anyone in the house but I heard something on the balcony, It was the swing beneath the balcony, the water was knocking it into the post against the house. I said it was nothing bad. Then Linda went out onto the deck and she saw how high the water was." Ash retold. 

Upon the realization of the accending water which showed no sign of stopping, the couple had to make a split second decision. They fled into the night, worrying about what this would do to their home and the homes of their many friends.

"We ran out the door and jumped in the car." Jimmy said, "we needed to get out."

After the uproar the flood had caused, Jimmy and his wife Linda went to stay with some cousins, who also had a home on the creek. It was a night filled with worry. With all the uncertainty Jimmy, like any other would have if put in that situation, had trouble falling asleep.

"We went to go spend the night at Lind's cousins house, which was on the creek and I could hear the creek raring because I couldn't sleep." Jimmy discussed.

When  the night was over and it was safe to leave the house again, Ash and his wife ventured to their river house. The anxiety they felt while waiting to see what had become of their home was met with a   disheveled house that was still standing. The couple was overcome with joy that their beloved home still stood, when many home didn't withstand the flooding. Although the home was still intact, it had severe water damage and many of the possessions inside had been ruined.

"The water was all over the bottom floor." Said Ash, "It ruined all of our memories, photographs and such."

After taking in the disorderly sights of the home, they began salvaging their home. They came to the conclusion that they couldn't do it alone. Help came in from all over town to help the couple. Everyone came to lend a hand to those who had always helped them.

"Four or five groups of our friends came to our house to help clean up, we were pretty much in shock." Explained Ash, "We had to tear up half of our house, our friends carried loads and loads of stuff. All of the wonderful people were climbing up our stairs with bags and boxes and carts"

Even though there was a large mass of people coming to help clean up, it would take months to clean up the remnants of the flood. 

"Even months after that [the flood], disaster groups from all over the country came to help the clean up. They were wonderful." said Ash.

Although the house had been cleared of debris the flood had left, Ash was still displaced from his home. He was displaced for months, and only had somewhere to stay out of the kindness of others hearts.

"We had some really great people, they gave us their house to live in at a week at a time while they were out of town. Some people gave us their house for the whole summer." Ash said.

While things settled down, Ash made plans to make the house livable again. He did what he could even when things seemed hopeless, as did the rest of Wimberley.

"Over all everyone kept hopeful. The catchphrase that came out of it was 'Wimberley Strong'. It was really quite amazing." said Ash.

With all of the trauma the flooding put Ash through, his family continues to encourage him to move out.

"Ive already encouraged him to move out," said Ash's son James Ash, "Its nice living on the river, but I don't know if it is worth it anymore."

Ash considered moving away from Wimberley, but could never go through with leaving the place he has called home for so many years. It has become a part of him, through thick and thin, no matter how difficult it may be to live there, Wimberley is Ash's home.

"Its a beautiful place," Ash argued "why would you want to move anywhere else?"