'Fight for survival,' husband and wife separated as floods swept them away

KERRVILLE, Texas (KXAN) -- Brian Eads' morning began with a frantic attempt to escape cascading floodwaters.

"Got my wife up, we tried to make it to my truck, we didn't make it, we were washed away. Got into another truck. Got it started. We made it 20 feet," Eads said.

KXAN spoke with him at Ingram Elementary School, the official reunification site for west Kerr County.

"It was just a fight for survival at that time," Eads said. "Me and my wife got separated. I grabbed ahold of one tree. I was trying to push something for her to float on, but I took a tumble in the river. I came back up and I couldn't see her, I couldn't hear her."

Officials said Friday afternoon that at least 13 people died and 20 were unaccounted for across the county, including children at a girls camp. The Texas Game Wardens posted on X around 7:15 that they had made entry into the camp and were beginning to bring campers out.

Community members packed the reunification center at the elementary school. Food, water and first responders were on hand to assist people with questions about ongoing dangers and their loved ones.

"They're checking in letting us know who they're looking for we're taking all of that information and trying to create a database so we can help reunite families," said Mindy Curran, Ingram ISD's interim superintendent, who led one of the reunification operations. "There's a lot of devastation out here today."

She applauded the community for coming together to help their neighbors.

Eads was just one of many across the county waiting for answers.

"What would you say to your wife right now?" KXAN reporters asked.

"That I love her and I want her to be safe. I know she's strong," Eads said.