Two Sisters Rebuild After Flood Submerges San Angelo Home

Record rainfall in San Angelo, Texas, caused severe flooding, leaving Keri Patton's home submerged in 18 feet of water. Patton escaped with her pets and is dealing with the extensive damage to her home without flood insurance. Her sister, Laura Debusk, traveled from New Mexico to help with the cleanup and recovery process.

Keri Patton awoke to the sound of water crashing through her San Angelo home.

Seemingly without warning, 18 feet of floodwater quickly enveloped her house on the morning of July Fourth after the Lake View area saw a record-breaking 14 inches of rainfall in only a few hours.

"I could see the water coming in, gushing from every direction," Patton said. "I was like, 'I gotta get out.' Everything was underwater. And when I left, I couldn’t get the gate open from the water. When we finally got my truck out, (water) was up to the bottom of the doors."

Before Patton escaped, she called her sister Laura Debusk, who lives in Clovis, New Mexico. It was 4:30 a.m. in the Mountain Time Zone.

"When she called and said, 'I’m flooding,' I assumed it was a burst pipe," Debusk said. "She told me, 'No, I have rising water.' So for a minute I was scared I lost her because you don’t want to get a phone call going, 'I can’t get out of my house. I may drown.'"

Patton escaped the rising waters with her two dogs and cats and found shelter at a nearby friend’s house while Debusk made the five-hour drive to San Angelo.

When Debusk arrived at Patton’s house, the water level had reached its maximum height. The house was partially submerged in 4-5 feet of water. It was much deeper toward her property line against Short Street where a few neighbors’ homes were completely underwater.

"I pulled up to the house, and I immediately started crying," Debusk said. "I thought I lost my baby sister."

A day later, the water level receded to the point where Debusk and Patton could enter the home and assess the damage. As the water continued its downward march, it revealed everything left behind.

Cars, trucks, homes and street signs slowly emerged as the hours passed. Eventually, Debusk, Patton and a group of friends entered the property and began gathering the waterlogged pieces of Patton’s life.

Geared with waterproof rain boots and disposable rubber gloves, the group waded through 6 inches of water throughout Patton’s home to separate what could be salvaged from the debris.

Hardwood flooring, kitchen appliances, computers, furniture, vinyl records and pictures — nothing was spared from the water. And a flood line of dirt and grime, painting anything below 4 feet inside the house, was an ever-present reminder of the damage.

It was hard for Debusk to take in.

"I’ve helped her build her dream house, and this is what it is," Debusk said. "This is her life, and I’m doing everything I can to give it back to her."

Like most people in the area, Patton does not have flood insurance.

The region where she lives near Short Street and West 42nd Street is not in a flood plain, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood zone map.

So she was not required to get flood insurance when she bought the home.

Patton said she called her insurance company to report the damage, but they turned her away since she is without flood insurance coverage.

San Angelo needs relief and financial help, Debusk said.

"Who would’ve thought we need flood insurance in San Angelo, Texas?" she said.

Debusk joked that her sister always wanted waterfront property. For the next few days, Patton will have it as the once 18-foot lake recedes down to a puddle.

Patton’s horse and donkey will eventually be able to use the entire pen after being confined to a small 10-foot area at the top of her property, and the neighbor's sheep trapped between a thin stretch of fencing will go back home.

Compared to the months-long journey of cleaning, sorting debris, applying for aid and hoping it comes, the few days of flood waters will feel like a distant memory.

"Right now, we’re hour by hour," Debusk said. "We’re just going to rebuild, but it’s going to be day by day."

She added, "To say that we’re lost and devastated doesn’t begin to touch the emotions that’s going on inside at all."