JONESTOWN, Texas (KXAN) — As floodwaters rapidly rose overnight across Central Texas, one man’s instincts may have saved a family’s life.
Unable to sleep, Matthew Crowder showed up to work early at Texas Paintball, on the banks of Big Sandy Creek in Jonestown. Realizing they wouldn’t be opening for the day, he walked the property, snapping photos of the rising water.
As he was leaving, a gut feeling made him turn back — and that’s when he saw floodwater edging dangerously close to a nearby home.
“And then all of a sudden, just within 30 seconds, the people’s front yard was starting to take on water pretty bad,” Crowder said. He decided to start shouting to get their attention. That’s when he saw a child with a dog exit the home. Moments later, his mother followed.
He said she appeared in shock, so he took control, telling her, “Make sure everyone’s awake, get your head count, and let’s make a plan.” He also called 911.
As he waited for first responders, the water rose to waist-high, making it tough for children to get their footing. One briefly being swept away a short distance. Crowder recounts grabbing children, four of them, all under 12 years old, and helping get them to safety. Crowder said that’s when the power cut out.
“To be in that water and listening to the thunder, the loud, you know, water, the trees, hearing the roots come up off the trees and buildings crashing and things flying down the creek, and, you know, everyone kind of yelling and, you know, screaming, trying to find who’s where and stuff. It was definitely like surreal,” Crowder said.
He lost his footing, and water carried him 20 feet down the road. Despite that, he got back on his feet and helped the mother, her children, their grandfather and two dogs to safety.
“It’s kind of like, you know, the worst nightmare you’ve ever had, and just kind of realizing that in the moment is something that, if you haven’t gone through it, it’s really kind of hard to comprehend,” Crowder said.
Among the children was a 12-year-old friend staying over for a sleepover. His mother later contacted KXAN, saying Crowder saved her son’s life.
According to a fundraising effort on GoFundMe, the Eliashar family lost their home, car and belongings. They had no flood insurance and only got away with the clothes on their backs.