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'Takes a village to rebuild': Survivor of 1987 flash flood, committed to helping those impacted by latest tragedy
Kendall County emergency officials announced Sunday that crews recovered two bodies.
TEXAS, USA — As the Hill Country grapples with the aftermath of a treacherous flash flood, stories of hope, resilience and community support continue to emerge from the darkness of the tragedy.
One such story comes from Boerne resident Emily Mandujano, whose commitment to helping flood victims comes from a place of both deep faith and personal experience with disaster.
Over the weekend, she along with several others, visited Lions Park in Center Point to view the state of the Guadalupe River and surrounding destruction.
Mandujano remembers having the time of her life at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River when she was 10 years old.
“I was with Dellview Baptist Church and I was 10 years old,” Mandujano said. “I remember having so much fun there, going on the river.”
She also recalls surviving the flash flood of 1987 near Comfort, which claimed the lives of 10 campers and rescue of dozens stranded people in the Guadalupe River.
“My friends and I were in a canoe, and we had to get rescued. They brought us upstream,” Mandujano said.
Nearly four decades later, she’s once again witnessing heartbreak experienced by so many in the Hill Country as flash flooding led to the deaths of at least 82 people across numerous counties over the July Fourth weekend. Officials indicated 28 children were among the victims recovered.
This time, Mandujano is committed to helping others in any way possible. Whether it’s through prayer or providing meals for those impacted by the floods, she’s ready.
“So sad for me to see this. It takes a village to rebuild,” she said. “This is near and dear to my heart, and I pray that all the families find comfort in God.”
On Sunday, Kendall County emergency officials announced on Facebook the recovery of two bodies. No details were provided on where exactly they were found.
Search and recovery operations continue around the clock, though officials are urging community members not to self-deploy for safety reasons.