Family of father killed in flood still fighting to return home one year later

One year after the catastrophic Hill Country floods, NBC 5 examines the recovery, the reforms, and the families whose stories continue to shape Texas.

To some, it might seem strange that Christinia Wilson finds her peace in the place where her world came crumbling down.

Still, every couple of weeks throughout the last year, she’s returned to the same riverfront land in Ingram where her family was nearly washed away and her husband lost his life.

“The shed ended up all the way over there along with the other half of our house because our house split in half down the middle,” she said, pointing at a wall of electrical boxes still dented from the impact.

On the morning of July 4, 2025, Wilson said her family woke to rising water.

“It was up to our waists, steadily climbing. 911 kept telling us, ‘Just get to the roof. Get to the roof,’ even though we told them we can’t. There’s nothing we can do,” said Wilson.

Her husband, Julian Ryan, punched out a window in an attempt to save his family, but it was too late to escape.

His sacrifice would prove fatal.

Wilson said the shattered glass severed his arm. The bleeding wouldn’t stop.

“I don’t know how long it took. I have guestimates. I have ranges, but I didn’t look at the time. I wasn’t watching it. But at some point, he was gone,” she said.

Ryan was one of 119 people who died that day in Kerr County.

Wilson, her two boys and her mother-in-law survived by clinging to a closet ledge as they waited hours for help to arrive.

“It’s been a rollercoaster. I’ve had a lot of highs, a lot of lows, and it’s random. I’ll be thinking, I’m doing good and that everything’s great, and I’ve moved past it. Then a song will come on, or I’ll drive by a place that we used to go a lot, or Father’s Day will hit and I’ll think about how he’s missing all of the experiences with his son that he could be having,” said Wilson.

One year later, she’s piecing her life back together.

Wilson’s gone through counseling, and this week, started a new job. She’s now focused on getting her family back into permanent housing.

As many in the still flood-ravaged community have learned, recovery takes time.

“You know, I have to recognize my new world, you know, learn to navigate my new life,” said Jackie Burton.

We first met Burton back in August when she showed us the tree where she rode out the storm.

Burton was just a few doors down from Wilson when the water washed away her home. She lost her dog, Jack, in the rushing water as she clung to a tree waiting for help to arrive.

“It’s so weird because it seems like it was so long ago and then it seems like it was yesterday,” she said.

Thanks to the generosity of fellow Texans, today Burton is in a new home.

She also adopted Bruno, an 8-month-old puppy that has served as a companion for her and her cat, Monkey, who also survived the flood.

She hopes the anniversary marks a new chapter.

“I’m just trying to make it like be the tipping point of where I can just let it go now and just feel normal again,” said Burton.

Wilson’s also focused on moving forward.

She said she’s finally secured funding for a new home. And despite protests from some loved ones, she’s signed a letter of intent to again rent the lot where she was building a life with Julian.

“This is where I felt closest to Julian. It’s where I still feel closest to Julian,” she said.

It’s also a place where their son can grow up reminded of his father’s love.

“I want him to be a good person. I want him to be the person his dad knew he could be, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure of that,” said Wilson.