Texas Woman Hopped on a Kayak to Escape Floodwaters With Her Dogs: 'I'm Still in Shock'

A Texas woman and her two dogs escaped rising floodwaters by climbing into a kayak, one of many survival stories emerging from the catastrophic flash floods that hit Kerr County.

Severe flash flooding swept through the Texas Hill Country on the morning of July 4, catching many residents and vacationers off guard as the Guadalupe River surged over 25 feet in under an hour.

In Hunt, Texas, Diana Smith woke up to her home surrounded by fast-moving water, Click 2 Houston reported. After failed attempts to reach 911, she cried out in desperation, asking for divine help. When she opened her door, the floodwaters swept her two dogs in opposite directions.

Acting quickly, she jumped into a kayak with them and navigated the torrent to safety.

"I open the front door and it sweeps both my dog's different directions and I'm panicking thinking, 'Now what the hell am I gonna do?' I said a prayer when I was standing on my porch," Smith said. "I don't know what to think. I think I'm still in shock."

As emergency crews continue search-and-rescue efforts across Central Texas, many residents remain displaced, and entire neighborhoods have been reduced to debris. The disaster, now the deadliest natural event of 2025, left at least 82 dead and dozens missing.