A stranger’s yell saves family in the middle of the night as flash floods swept across Jonestown, Texas. The Eliashar family barely escaped their home after floodwaters surged into their yard with no warning.
Matthew Crowder arrived for his early morning shift at Texas Paintball when he quickly noticed water surrounding the nearby Eliashar home. Sensing danger, he immediately began yelling to warn anyone inside.
Crissy Eliashar’s son, Benny, heard the screams and rushed to wake her. Crissy found a man outside yelling that they needed to leave immediately. Their front yard had become a rushing river.
Crissy was home alone with her three children, ages 7, 10, and 12. A 12-year-old family friend was also staying with them. Her husband was working an overnight shift, and her elderly father was asleep.
Crowder told Crissy, “Make sure everyone’s awake, get your head count, and let’s make a plan.” They first tried to escape through the backyard. However, the backyard had already turned into a deep lake.
With no other option, they entered the floodwaters and moved toward Crowder. He held onto a fence, guiding them step by step. At one point, Crissy’s daughter fell and nearly drowned. Her son grabbed her arm just in time.
“I thought we had lost her,” Crowder later said. “It was the worst moment of my life.” Crowder also slipped but managed to get up and continue helping. He eventually called 911. Emergency responders arrived and drove the group to higher ground.
Although the family survived, their house was destroyed. They lost everything they owned. They did not have flood insurance. A GoFundMe campaign is now raising funds to help them rebuild.
Despite the devastation, Crissy remains grateful. “I’m so thankful that a stranger’s yell saves family like ours,” she said. “He truly rescued us.”
Her dogs and 75-year-old father also survived. But now, the family must start over with nothing but each other. This dramatic event shows how a stranger’s yell saves family during the worst of Texas flooding.
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