A young woman survived a terrifying ordeal after being swept 20 miles down the Guadalupe River during Texas flash floods. She clung to a tree for hours before being rescued in what witnesses call a miracle. This harrowing story shows the power of faith and determination in a crisis.
Devyn Smith was camping with her family in Kerrville when floodwaters hit. The river rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Water ripped through their tents in the middle of the night. Her entire family got swept away by the raging current.
The 22-year-old fought for survival as the flood carried her downstream. She traveled 15 to 20 miles from Kerrville to Center Point. Devyn managed to grab a cypress tree and held on for dear life. She screamed for help while clinging to the branches high above the rushing water.
Homeowner Carl Jeter heard her cries from his backyard. He immediately called 911 and reassured her help was coming. Jeter had to drive to find emergency crews when responders took too long. He calls her survival “a true miracle” that only divine intervention could explain.
Rescuers eventually reached Devyn after hours in the tree. She jumped into their boat when the water lowered. Amazingly, she escaped with only minor cuts and bruises. Her strength and will to live carried her through this nightmare.
Tragically, Devyn’s family remains missing. This includes her parents, sister, aunt, and uncle. Search teams continue looking for them along the river. The floods killed at least 27 people across Texas Hill Country.
This disaster shows how quickly nature can turn deadly. But it also reveals American resilience at its finest. Ordinary citizens like Carl Jeter stepped up when others were in danger. Their courage represents the best of our communities.
Faith and grit carried this young woman through impossible odds. Her story reminds us that miracles still happen even in dark times. We pray for her missing family and all affected by this terrible flood.
