When floodwaters came rushing into the Vlasek family’s home in Hunt, Texas, they thought they were losing everything — their home, their memories, and most heartbreakingly, their dog.
It all happened on the night of July 4th. Cody Vlasek, a high school senior, had grown up in that house. He stood there days later with local reporters, pointing to where the living room used to be. The home was gone.
“The back fence is where the 100-year flood plain ends, and we’re 20 — almost 30 — feet away from that.”
Cody said. Still, the Guadalupe River reached them.
The flood came fast. It was the middle of the night when Cody’s mother, Denise, first woke up. Cody and both his parents had just minutes to escape. He remembered the water rising quickly, reaching up to his waist. They couldn’t even stop to look for their dog. The current was so strong, Cody said it nearly tripped some of them as they rushed to a neighbor’s house uphill.
Within 20 minutes, the entire house had filled with water. From the hill, they could hear neighbors calling for help. Cody said the feeling was horrible — knowing people needed help, but realizing that stepping back into that water could be deadly.
Later, when the water receded and it was safe to return, Cody went back to what was left of their house. He had to break through his own window to get inside. That’s when he heard it — a scratching sound and a soft whimper.
He turned a corner and saw something he never expected: his dog was alive. The animal had somehow managed to climb into the family’s washing machine. It was floating, but safe. “I turned my head around the corner and saw him just floating in the washer,” Cody said.
In the middle of so much destruction, this moment stood out. A sign of hope. A life saved.
But not all were as lucky. Cody and his family are still grieving. People they knew didn’t survive the flooding. “You can replace a house, but you can’t replace lives,” he said.
The floods in Central Texas have left a deep impact. Fueled by unusually heavy rainfall, the Guadalupe River overflowed and caused some of the worst flooding the area has ever seen. The state’s Hill Country region, usually known for its scenic beauty, turned into a disaster zone.
More than 120 people have died since the floods began on July 4th, with over 150 still missing. Among the dead, at least 36 were children. One place especially hit hard was Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls. Located just off the Guadalupe River, the camp confirmed that 27 of its campers and counselors had died. Five more girls are still unaccounted for.
For the Vlasek family, the reunion with their dog doesn’t erase the pain of what’s been lost. But in a time when so much has gone wrong, it reminds them — and all of us — that sometimes, small miracles still happen. Even if they’re found floating inside a washing machine.