Assistant parks director saved lives by evacuating Kerrville-Schreiner Park before flood hit

In the early morning hours of Friday, as floodwaters began rising along the Guadalupe River, Assistant Parks Director Rosa Ledesma and her crew conducted a complete evacuation of Kerrville-Schreiner Park that likely saved dozens of lives.

“They were heroes that night,” Mayor Joe Herring Jr. said Tuesday, praising Ledesma’s efforts to get everyone out of the riverside campground before catastrophic flooding struck.

Ledesma and her team went through the lower section of the park, evacuating campers from tents, RVs and cabins as the flood threat became apparent. By the time the historic flood peaked, eight cabins, 10 RV sites and numerous tent sites were completely submerged.

“She got everybody out of there,” Assistant City Manager Michael Hornes said during Tuesday’s city council meeting. “I can’t thank her enough for all the things that she has actually done.”

The successful evacuation stands in stark contrast to the tragedy that struck other riverside areas, where 94 people died in Kerr County and 161 remain missing. The park’s lower section, which sits directly along the Guadalupe River, was in the direct path of what Gov. Greg Abbott described as a “tsunami wave of wall of water.”

Areas Completely Destroyed

Hornes detailed the extent of damage at the park, noting that some areas were a “total wash” after floodwaters completely submerged the riverside camping areas. The park, a popular destination for Hill Country visitors, had been full of campers during the July 4 holiday weekend.

The evacuation likely prevented what could have been a significant loss of life, as the flooding occurred around 4 a.m. when most people would have been sleeping in their tents, RVs and cabins.

“If you were camping in a tent, if you were camping in an RV, or if you were in one of our cabins, they came through and they got you,” Herring said. “And I’m so proud.”

Proactive Response

Ledesma’s evacuation represents one of the success stories from Friday’s disaster, showing how proactive emergency response can save lives even in the face of unprecedented flooding.

The park evacuation contrasts with the broader challenge officials faced in warning residents and visitors across the sprawling disaster zone, where the rapid rise of floodwaters caught many by surprise.

Most city parks remain closed due to extensive flooding that has necessitated cleanup and repairs. The river trail has been completely demolished, and other recreational areas have suffered significant damage.

Recognition for Public Service

City officials praised Ledesma’s dedication and quick thinking during the crisis, highlighting how municipal employees stepped up during the emergency.

“Rosa Ledesma and her crew evacuated everyone from the lower section of Kerrville-Schreiner Park,” Herring said, emphasizing the life-saving impact of their actions.

The evacuation success provides a rare positive story amid the ongoing tragedy, as search teams continue looking for 161 missing people and the community begins the long process of recovery from one of the deadliest natural disasters in Texas history.

Kerrville-Schreiner Park has been a popular camping destination for generations of Texas families visiting the Hill Country, making the potential loss of life there particularly significant for the community.