Post by walterismydog on May 27, 2015 20:17:52 GMT -5
First of all, thank you ALL for your kind thoughts and for lifting up the entire community who is dealing with this horrible situation. It means a lot to get so much support here.
There isn't a whole lot to update. They found a body today, one of the friends who was in the house (the daughter of the owners of the home). I don't really know a whole lot of other details. Yesterday there were reports of two other bodies, but nothing else has been said about that to this point. I did update in the previous thread that my friend's dog was found ALIVE in a tree, so that is a small bright spot in an otherwise awful situation.
My mom was at a kindergarten graduation today for another child she is a nanny for and they had a small moment of silence for the kids (who also go to that school). My mom said it was completely awful and sad and she is just so, so torn up over this whole thing. I forgot, but she reminded me that they were her first official job after she retired from being a teacher. She's been involved with kids quite literally her entire life and she has never had something like this happen. I wish I could be with her right now, but it's just not feasible at all for me to travel down there. She's the type of nanny who truly loves her kids and these babies are like grandchildren to her. I'm so torn up for the family and I don't even know what to do, what the hell do you even do in a situation like this? J's parents were my sunday school teachers and his mom was my Girl Scout troop leader, his brothers and sister and I all grew up together. It's just so numbing.
This is the best article I've seen so far - there's been a LOT of conflicting information on various news outlets, but this one includes information that I heard from someone who was in the hospital with J the day after it happened, so I think this one is the most accurate. In another strange coincidence, the person who owns the home that J banged on is one of my mom's friend's family. www.wsj.com/articles/in-texas-flood-a-last-phone-call-as-home-is-swept-away-1432672242
Again, thank you all for listening and for all your kind thoughts. It's going to be a long road for everyone. I'm very inspired by the amazing outpouring of support and help and charity/human spirit that has occurred as a result of this horrific tragedy, soooo many of my friends in Texas are there helping or offering their homes/buying supplies/giving time/etc. It's great that so many people have come together.
5/29 update - the body of the young boy that could not be identified when found a couple of days ago was just confirmed as Andrew. J got out of the hospital last night. The search for everyone else continues. This is just so, so sad.
That's another good article. I am so impressed and humbled by all the people searching. The conditions out there have been awful, snakes and mosquitos everywhere, and people just keep going. It makes me cry.
Post by walterismydog on May 27, 2015 21:59:07 GMT -5
Just got back from a walk and saw that a little boy's body was found and is not identifiable and is being sent to the coroner. Fuck.
I want to puke. I know there's basically no chance that anyone is still alive but it still sucks. As much as I want their bodies to be found, it is just so awful when they are. :/
My parents said Lake Travis (in Austin) has risen over 20 feet in less than week. The amount of rain it would take to do that is staggering. I can't even imagine.
My mom noted today that it's been 10 years since Austin had a normal year of weather. It's either been a drought or flooding for so many years now.
What a horrible tragedy. So random. We all live our lives worrying about "real" threats, like cancer and car accidents; it never occurs to us that our house could be swept down a river while we sleep, or a plane can crash into our house while we watch a movies with our kiddos, or a million other senseless "accidents" that will destroy our world. I'm thinking about your friends, walterismydog.
The thought of the children being torn away from their parents just breaks my heart. I am so sorry for you, your friend, and all of the families involved. I will keep praying for a miracle.