NBC Nightly News Full Episode - July 7

♪ ♪. >>> TONIGHT, ON THE. GROUND FROM THE TEXAS. WATERS RECEDE AND THE. DEATH TOLL NOW EXCEEDS. 100 LIVES LOST. RIVERS ALL OVER. CENTRAL TEXAS ROSE AND. ROSE, SO MUCH DEATH. AND DESTRUCTION. DOWNSTREAM. ONE RIVER RISING 32. FEET IN JUST 90. MINUTES, UNLEASHING A. FORCE LIKE A MASSIVE. DAM BURST. THE SHEER FORCE OF. DESTRUCTION IMMENSE. THE NEW VIDEO COMING. IN OF RESCUES OFF OF.

ROOF TOPS AS STORIES. OF SURVIVORS AWAKENED. TO THEIR HOMES FILLED. WITH WATERS EMERGE. WITH SO MANY NOT SO. LUCKY. >> I JUST REMEMBER. HOLDING HIM SO HE. WOULDN'T GET SWEPT IN. THE FLOOD, AND THAT'S. WHERE HE IS, WITH. MAMA. I LOVE YOU. >>> ASLEEP ALONG THE. RIVERBANKS, VARIOUS. CAMPS FOR KIDS. HUNDREDS MADE IT OUT. BUT DOZENS TONIGHT.

TONIGHT 27 CAMPERS AND. COUNSELLORS FROM CAMP. MYSTIC ALONE AMONG THE. DEAD AND MISSING. TWO GIRLS FOUND. TOGETHER 15 MILES. DOWNSTREAM. WE ARE ON THE. RIVERBANK AS RESCUES. CONTINUE. RESPONDERS SEEING THE. UNTHINKABLE AND. COMBING MILES OF GIANT. KNOTS OF TREES, CARS. AND HOMES. >>> PLUS, THE URGENT. CAROLINA. >>> THE DEADLY. STANDOFF AT A BORDER. PATROL STATION. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN A. MAN STARTED FIRING AT. AGENTS. . >>> THE LARGE. IMMIGRATION OPERATION. IN L.A. DESCENDING ON.

A POPULAR PARK THERE. >>> THE PRESIDENT. THREATENS TARIFFS. AGAINST AMERICA'S. CLOSEST TRADING. PARTNERS INCLUDING. JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA. >>> THROUGH HELL AND. HIGH WATER. HOW OUR. CORRESPONDENT'S FAMILY. HELPED WITH OTHERS OF. THIS FLOOD AND OUT OF. THE WATERS, AND THE. FLASHBACK TO THE ONE. THEY SURVIVED NEARLY. 40 YEARS AGO.♪ ♪. >>> THIS IS "NBC. NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH TOM. LLAMAS, REPORTING. TONIGHT FROM. KERRVILLE, TEXAS. >>> AND GOOD EVENING. WE COME ON THE AIR. TONIGHT FROM TEXAS'S. HILL COUNTRY.

JUST BELOW US IS THE. GUADALUPE RIVER, AND. YOU CAN SEE THE. DESTRUCTION IT CARVED. OUT IN PARTS OF. CENTRAL TEXAS. DOWN THERE IS WHERE. THE RIVER STANDS. TONIGHT, AND WE WANTED. TO SHOW YOU HOW HIGH. IT ROSE, MORE THAN 30. FEET. EVEN HIGHER FROM WHERE. WE ARE BROADCASTING. LIVE TONIGHT, WIPING. OUT EVERYTHING IN ITS. WAY. AND TODAY WE WERE WITH. RESCUERS DIGGING INTO. MANGLED CARS CAKED IN. MUD ALONG RIVERBANKS, CREWS SETTING OUT ON. AIR BOATS AND DIVING. INTO THE RIVER, ALL. TRYING TO FIND SIGNS. OF LIFE.

SURVIVORS TRAPPED, AIRLIFTED FROM THEIR. HOMES TO SAFETY. YOU SEE IT RIGHT HERE. THE DESTRUCTION. IMMENSE. YOU CAN SEE BRIDGES. WIPED OUT COMPLETELY. AND NEW VIDEO SHOWING. THE QUICK RISE OF THE. NEARBY LANO RIVER. THIS IN UNDER AN HOUR. LOOK AT THAT WATER. RISE. CAMP MYSTIC GRIEVING. THE LOSS, AND THIS IS. HARD TO SAY, OF 27. CAMPERS AND. COUNSELLORS. YOU CAN SEE THE. HEARTBREAKING IMAGES, THE HIGH WATER LINE. INSIDE THE CABINS. WHERE CHILDREN SLEPT. MUDDIED MATTRESSES, STUFFED ANIMALS AND. TRUNKS ALL LEFT.

BEHIND, WITH SO MANY. HOLDING OUT HOPE MORE. WILL BE FOUND ALIVE. >>> TONIGHT, BATTLING. THE HEAT, MUD AND. MISERY, THEY'RE. LOOKING FOR ANY SIGNS. OF LIFE. SEARCH-AND-RESCUE. TEAMS ON THE GUADALUPE. RIVER, FURIOUSLY. COMBING THROUGH. MASSIVE MOUNTAINS OF. DEBRIS. >> WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE. OF THE RIVER RIGHT NOW. AND JUST BEHIND ME YOU. CAN SEE WHY THIS. SEARCH AND RECOVERY IS. SO COMPLICATED. THERE ARE MOUNDS OF. THIS MANGLED STEEL AND. TREE BRANCHES AND TREE. TRUNKS. THIS TEAM IS TRYING TO. FIGURE OUT A WAY. INSIDE TO SEE WHAT IF.

ANYTHING OR ANYONE IS. STILL TRAPPED. AN ALL-OUT SEARCH FOR. SURVIVORS BY WATER, AIR AND HORSEBACK. >> ALL OVER THIS AREA. YOU SEE HOMES AND. TRAILERS AND RVs WITH. THIS GIANT ORANGE X. IT MEANS THEY'VE BEEN. SEARCHED. WE HOPE WHOEVER LIVED. IN HERE GOT OUT. BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE. WHAT THE RIVER WATER. DID TO THIS, FLIPPING. THIS ENTIRE RV OVER, DESTROYING EVERYTHING. INSIDE. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER. WYATT KELLY HAS BEEN. AT THIS FOR DAYS. >> WHAT KIND OF THINGS. HAVE YOU SEEN OUT.

HERE? >> UM, UNTHINKABLE. THINGS. I MEAN THERE'S THINGS. THAT NO ONE NEVER. WOULD HAVE THOUGHT. THEY WOULD SEE IN. THEIR LIFETIME. >> SO MANY PEOPLE WERE. IN THEIR BEDS FAST. ASLEEP WHEN THE. FLOODWATERS BEGAN TO. RAPIDLY RISE EARLY ON. THE 4th OF JULY. THE CATASTROPHIC. FLOODING KILLING AT. LEAST 104 PEOPLE IN. SIXTHS, INCLUDING. JULIAN RYAN WHO WAS. WITH HIS MOTHER, KIDS. AND WIFE CHRISTINA IN. THEIR TRAILER HOME AS. THE WATER BEGAN TO. RISE. >> MY HUSBAND STARTED. PANICKING BECAUSE.

THERE WAS NO WAY FOR. US TO GET OUT. THERE WAS NO WAY FOR. US TO GET UP, AND SO. HE TRIED TO BUST OUT. THE WINDOW AND SLICED. HIS ARM ALMOST OFF. >> CHRISTINA SAYS HE. QUICKLY BEGAN TO BLEED. OUT. >> WHAT DO YOU. REMEMBER? I'M SO SORRY YOU HAD. TO SEE YOUR SON GO. THROUGH THAT? >> I JUST REMEMBER. HOLDING HIM SO HE. WOULDN'T GET SWEPT IN. THE FLOOD. BLOOD GOING. EVERYWHERE. AND THAT'S WHERE IT IS.

TOO LATE. WITH MAMA, I LOVE YOU, AND YOU MAKE SURE YOU. TELL EVERYBODY I LOVE. YOU, LOVE THEM. >> TRAGEDY ALSO. PLAYING OUT AT CAMP. MYSTIC WHICH SAYS 27. OF ITS CAMPERS AND. COUNSELLORS ARE AMONG. THE DEAD AND MISSING. HALLIE THOMPSON'S. 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. SOMEHOW MANAGED TO. ESCAPE FROM HER CABIN. >> MY DAUGHTER GRABBED. ON TO A TREE AND. GRABBED THE HAND OF. HER FRIEND AND PUT IT. ON THE TREE. UM, AND SO ONE BY ONE.

THOSE GIRLS CAME OUT. AND FOUND ANYTHING. THEY CAN CLING TO. >> HALLIE AND FOUR. OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. WERE NEARBY. THEIR CABIN WAS ALSO. SURROUNDED BY WATER. SHE SAYS THEIR. NEIGHBORS SAVED THEIR. LIVES. >> IT FEELS WRONG OR. STRANGE TO FEEL HOW. GRATEFUL THAT I AM. THAT WE'RE ALL ALIVE. WHILE WE ARE STILL. WAITING FOR WORD ABOUT. FRIENDS' DAUGHTERS, AND WHILE WE HAVE. RECEIVED WORD OF. FRIENDS' DAUGHTERS WHO. HAVE DIED. >> LILA BONNER, SARAH.

MARSH, JANIE HUNT, ELOISE PECK AND TWINS. HANNAH AND REBECCA. LAWRENCE, JUST SOME OF. THE YOUNG CAMPERS. WHOSE LIVES WERE CUT. TRAGICALLY SHORT. KELLY ANNE LATALL IS. STILL MISSING. ♪ ♪. >> HER DAD POSTING. THIS VIDEO OF HER SOLO. AT A CHRISTMAS. PAGEANT, ASKING. PRAYERS FOR A MIRACLE. YOU CAN SEE THE. FLOOD'S DEVASTATING. HOLL ON THIS. CENTURY-OLD ALL-GIRLS.

CAMP IN THESE IMAGES. LOOK HOW HIGH THE. WATER CAME INTO THE. CABIN, THE FLOODWATERS. TOSSING MUDDY. MATTRESSES FROM BUNK. BEDS. THIS PINK TRUNK WITH. THE NAME ELLE FLIPPED. ON ITS SIDE. A STUFFED ANIMAL LEFT. BEHIND. ♪ WE WANT TO PASS IT. ON ♪. >> A CAMP NURSE. POSTING THIS HAUNTING. VIDEO OF SOME OF THE. LITTLE GIRLS SINGING. AS THEY EVACUATED. ♪ TO KNOW THE LORD. ABOVE HAS COME TO ME ♪. >> THE 4th OF JULY. HOLIDAY BROUGHT MANY. FAMILIES TO THE CABINS.

THAT DOT THE RIVER'S. EDGE. >> WE DON'T KNOW. EVERYBODY WHO WAS. HERE, SO WE DON'T KNOW. EVERYBODY WHO IS. MISSING. >> IT COULD BE EVEN. WORSE YOU ARE SAYING? >> YEAH, IT WILL BE. WORSE BECAUSE WE DON'T. KNOW EVERYBODY WHO IS. MISSING. >> JOE HERRON JR. IS. THE MAYOR OF. KERRVILLE. >> TOOK ME COMPLETELY. BY SURPRISE. I'M SAD TO SAY I. DIDN'T KNOW. IF I -- IF THERE WAS. ANYWAY ON GOD'S GREEN. EARTH THAT WE COULD. HAVE WARNED PEOPLE WE. WOULD HAVE DONE IT, BUT WE DID NOT KNOW. >> 13-YEAR-OLD BLAIR. HARBOR AND 11-YEAR-OLD.

SISTER BROOKE WERE. THERE SPENDING THE. HOLIDAY IN A CABIN. WITH THEIR PARENTS AND. GRANDPARENTS. THEIR BODIES WERE. FOUND 15 MILES DOWN. THE RIVER, TOGETHER. THEIR SCHOOL WROTE A, QUOTE, POWERFUL SYMBOL. OF THEIR LASTING BOND. THEIR PARENTS SURVIVED. BUT THEIR GRANDPARENTS. ARE STILL MISSING. AMID THE HEARTBREAKING. LOSS OF LIFE, THERE. ARE ALSO REMARKABLE. STORIES OF SURVIVAL. AFTER THIS WOMAN WAS. SWEPT 20 MILES DOWN. THE RIVER, SHE CLUNG. TO A TREE FOR HOURS. UNTIL RESCUERS IN. BOATS WERE ABLE TO.

COME AND SAVE HER. IN HUNT, TEXAS, DIANA. SMITH SAYS SHE WOKE UP. TO FIND HER HOUSE. SURROUNDED BY WATER. >> OPENED THE FRONT. DOOR AND IT SWEEPS. BOTH MY DOGS DIFFERENT. DIRECTIONS, AND I'M. PANICKING THINKING NOW. WHAT THE HELL AM I. GOING TO DO. >> SHE SAYS SHE CALLED. 911 BUT NO ONE CAME. >> I SAID A PRAYER. WHEN I WAS STANDING ON. MY PORCH. BOTH OF MY PARENTS ARE. DECEASED AND I SAID, MOM, DAD, GOD, HELP. >> SHE MANAGED TO JUMP. INTO A KAYAK WITH HER. DOGS, PADDLING TO.

SAFETY. 11-YEAR-OLD KAYLIN WAS. AT CAMP KAHUNA SIX. MILES FROM CAMP. MYSTIC. >> WE LOOKED OUTSIDE. AND WE SAW LIKE AN. OCEAN OUT THERE. IT WAS JUST LIKE. COMPLETELY DESTROYING. EVERYTHING. >> THERE'S PEOPLE IN. IT. THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE. IN IT. >> THIS CABIN APPEARED. TO FLOAT AWAY IN THE. FLOODWATERS. STILL, THE CAMP SAYS. EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO. EVACUATE TO SAFETY. >> WE SAW LIKE A WHOLE. CABIN FLOATING DOWN, AND THAT'S WHEN WE. KNEW LIKE THINGS WERE. GETTING ACTUALLY REAL. OUT THERE. LIKE WE WERE STARTING. TO REALIZE THAT, UH,

THIS WAS A REAL. NATURAL DISASTER. CRISIS. >> WE WERE WITH THE. ALVARADO FAMILY AS THE. REALITY SET IN. THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS. WERE IN THIS RV WHEN. THE RIVER SURROUNDED. THEM. THESE ARE THE IMAGES. OF WHAT THEY SAW. OUTSIDE OF THEIR. WINDOWS. >> WE COULDN'T SEE. THROUGH THE WATER BUT. WE COULD SEE THE. CURRENTS MOVING, AND. IT JUST KEPT GOING, LIKE THERE WAS NO END. TO IT. >> THEIR DAD CAME TO. THEIR RESCUE ALONG. WITH A NEIGHBOR, PULLING THE GIRLS TO. SAFETY. BROOKE, THE OLDEST OF. THE TWO, LOOKING DOWN. AT THE RIVER AND. REALIZING HOW SOME.

GIRLS JUST LIKE HER. WEREN'T AS LUCKY. >> WHEN YOU GUYS HEARD. ABOUT ALL OF THE. PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T. MAKE IT, I MEAN WHAT. WAS THAT LIKE? I MEAN TO KNOW THAT. LIKE YOU WERE RIGHT. HERE. >> UM, IT -- IT HURT. I'M SORRY. UM, IT JUST SUCKS THAT. A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST. LOST THEIR LIVES BUT. IT IS REALLY GOOD TO. HEAR ABOUT THE PEOPLE, UM, THAT ARE GETTING. OUT AND STUFF. >> SO MANY STORIES. JUST LIKE THAT ALL.

ALONG THIS RIVER. AND AS YOU HEARD THE. MAYOR SAY THERE, SO. MANY WERE TAKEN BY. SURPRISE. THE QUESTION TONIGHT, WHY AND WHAT COULD. HAVE BEEN DONE TO. PREVENT SO MANY LIVES. LOST. RYAN CHANDLER IS ALSO. IN KERRVILLE TONIGHT. ALONG THE GUADALUPE. RIVER BANKS. RYAN, THE RIVER THAT. EVERYBODY LOVED TURNED. DEADLY SO QUICKLY. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING. FROM RESIDENTS ON JUST. HOW FAST THIS TURNED. FOR THE WORST? >> Reporter: YEAH, TOM. ONE WOMAN HERE TOLD ME. AS LATE AS THURSDAY. EVENING WITH FLOOD. WATCHES IN EFFECT, PEOPLE WERE GETTING. READY TO CELEBRATE THE.

4th OF JULY AT THE. PARK ALONG THIS RIVER. JUST HOURS LATER, IT. WOULD BE COMPLETELY. UNDER WATER. SO MANY PEOPLE JUST. HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS. COMING. KERRVILLE RESIDENT. MICHELLE PITTMAN HAD. NO IDEA THAT DEATH AND. DESTRUCTION WAS COMING. DOWN RIVER. >> YOU KNOW, THIS WAS. SOMETHING THAT. HAPPENED THAT NO. ONE -- NO ONE WAS. PREPARED FOR. >> Reporter: AS THE. URGENT SEARCH. CONTINUES, QUESTIONS. AND CALLS FOR. ACCOUNTABILITY GROW. ABOUT HOW MANY IN THIS. COMMUNITY WERE CAUGHT.

BY SUCH SURPRISE. >> REST ASSURED, NO. ONE KNEW THIS KIND OF. FLOOD WAS COMING. >> Reporter: MANY. QUESTIONING WHY. NEIGHBORHOODS AND. CAMPS ALONG THE. GUADALUPE RIVER WERE. NOT TOLD TO EVACUATE. EARLIER. >> VERY TOUGH TO MAKE. THOSE CALLS BECAUSE. WHAT WE ALSO DON'T. WANT TO DO IS CRY. WOLF. >> AT CAMP MYSTIC THE. TEXAS LIEUTENANT. GOVERNOR SAYS CAMPERS. WERE AWAKENED ONLY BY. THUNDER AND LIGHTNING. PHONES NOT ALLOWED BY. CAMP RULES. HE'S NOW PUSHING FOR. STATE LAWMAKERS TO. FUND MORE OUTDOOR. WARNING SIRENS. >> WE SHOULDN'T HAVE.

LIGHTNING AND THUNDER. WAKING UP KIDS. WE SHOULD HAVE THE. SIRENS. WE NEED TO GO STEP BY. STEP AND LOOK AT WHAT. HAPPENED. >> Reporter: THE. NATIONAL WEATHER. SERVICE SAYS A FLOOD. WATCH AT 1:13 P.M. WAS. ELEVATED AT 4:18 TO. URGENT FLASH FLOOD. WARNING TO KERR. COUNTY, SENDING. EMERGENCY ALERTS TO. CELLPHONES AND WEATHER. RADIOS. AT 4:03 A.M., AN. UPGRADE TO A FLASH. FLOOD EMERGENCY. FOR SO MANY THOSE. WARNING WENT UNHEARD. >> OBVIOUSLY MOST. PEOPLE AT 1:00 A.M. AND 4:00 A.M. ARE.

ASLEEP. SO I THINK WE WILL. HAVE A REASONABLE. CONVERSATION ABOUT, A, ARE THERE ANYWAYS TO. HAVE EARLIER. DETECTION. >> Reporter: SENATOR. TED CRUZ DEFENDING THE. NATIONAL WEATHER. SERVICE AMID CONCERNS. OF STAFFING SHORTAGES, SAYING CONGRESS WILL. ACT. >> WE DID SEE A LOT OF. PEOPLE HEROICALLY. TAKING KIDS OUT OF. HARM'S WAY BUT IT. SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. EARLIER. HOW WE MAKE THAT. HAPPEN I THINK IS A. REASONABLE DISCUSSION. >> Reporter: AS SO. MANY STILL GRIEVE. MANY QUESTIONING HOW. TO PREVENT THE NEXT. DISASTER. RYAN CHANDLER, NBC. NEWS, KERRVILLE,

TEXAS. >>> I WANT TO BRING IN. BILL KARINS NOW. BILL HAS BEEN NONSTOP. RAIN HERE FOR A LOT OF. THE DAY SINCE THE 4th. OF JULY. EXPLAIN TO OUR VIEWERS. HOW THIS RIVER ROSE SO. FAST. >> YEAH, THIS WAS. WILD. SO WE WERE EXPECTING A. FLOOD WATCH UP TO 7. INCHES OF RAIN. YOU COULD SEE SOME. AREAS GOT UP TO 20. INCHES OF RAIN. SO THIS WAS A HUGE. OVER ACHIEVER AND IT. WAS ALL BECAUSE OF THE. MOISTURE THAT WAS. PRESENT BECAUSE. TROPICAL STORM BARRY. BACK ON LATE LAST. SUNDAY, THAT MOISTURE. SNUCK NORTHWARDS AND. IT WAS SITTING OVER. THE TOP OF TEXAS. A LOT MORE HUMID AIR.

THAN NORMAL. THEN WHEN WE FINALLY. HAD SOMETHING TO. TRIGGER THAT, THESE. THUNDERSTORMS, AND IT. JUST KEPT RAINING AND. POURING IN THE SAME. EXACT AREAS, AND IT. WAS ALSO A HUGE. DROUGHT IN THIS AREA. BEFORE SO THE GROUND. WAS REALLY HARD. SO THE WATER CAME. RUSHING ALL THE WAY. DOWN THESE MOUNTAINS. INTO HILL TOWNS AND. YOU SAW THE RESULT, A. THREE-STORY-HIGH WALL. OF WATER. >> YEAH, AND THAT'S. THE WAY SURVIVORS. DESCRIBE IT, A WALL OF. WATER. BILL KARINS, WE THANK. YOU FOR THAT. >>> WE WANT TO TURN TO. POLITICS NOW. IN A HIGH-STAKES. MEETING BETWEEN. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, IT. COMES AS THE PRESIDENT. TODAY SHIFTED HIS. TARIFF DEADLINE. GABE GUTIERREZ IS AT. THE WHITE HOUSE. GABE, THE. ADMINISTRATION MOVING. THE GOALPOSTS IT. SEEMS? >> Reporter: YES, THAT'S RIGHT, TOM. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD. PAUSED THESE TARIFFS. UNTIL JULY 9th. THAT'S TWO DAYS FROM. NOW. INSTEAD, THE WHITE. HOUSE NOW SAYS THAT. DEADLINE WILL BE. PUSHED BACK UNTIL. AUGUST 1st WHILE THE. ADMINISTRATION KEEPS. TRYING TO NEGOTIATE. TRADE DEALS. PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY. POSTED LETTERS HE SAYS. HE IS SENDING TO. SEVERAL COUNTRIES, LAYING OUT WHAT THEIR. TARIFF RATES WILL BE. FOR EXAMPLE, 25% FOR.

JAPAN, 40% FOR. MYANMAR. AMID THE UNCERTAINTY, THE DOW JONES DROPPED. MORE THAN 400 POINTS. THIS AFTERNOON. MEANWHILE, THE. PRESIDENT TONIGHT IS. MEETING WITH ISRAELI. PRIME MINISTER. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU FOR. THE FIRST TIME SINCE. THE U.S. BOMBED IRAN. THERE'S NOW RENEWED. PUSH FOR A CEASE-FIRE. IN GAZA. THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE. THINKS A HOSTAGE DEAL. COULD BE REACHED THIS. WEEK, THOUGH HAMAS HAS. NOT >>> WELCOME BACK.

IN NORTH CAROLINA. FLOODWATERS ARE. RECEDING BUT THE. AFTERMATH OF TROPICAL. DEPRESSION CHANTAL HAS. BEEN DEADLY AS WELL. ONE WOMAN SWEPT AWAY. IN HER CAR. THE STORM UNLEASHING. HEAVY 10 INCHES OF. RAIN. FIRST RESPONDERS. CONDUCTING MORE THAN. 100 WATER RESCUES SO. FAR. >>> CHECK OUT THESE. DRAMATIC SCENES IN. LOS ANGELES AS DOZENS. OF FEDERAL LAW. ENFORCEMENT AND. MILITARY GATHERED IN. McARTHUR PARK NEAR A. LARGELY IMMIGRANT. NEIGHBORHOOD. ACCORDING TO A DEFENSE. OFFICIAL THEY WERE.

THERE TO PROTECT LAW. ENFORCEMENT DURING AN. IMMIGRATION. ENFORCEMENT OPERATION. THE AGENTS WERE MET RS AND. STAYED FOR ABOUT AN. S MAYOR. KAREN BASS CALLING. THIS A, QUOTE, POLITICAL STUNT NLT. WHEN WE COME BACK, LIVE FROM KERRVILLE. REPORTERS JOURNAL. OUR T. MORGAN CHESKY'S DEEP. ROOTS IN TEXAS AND WHY. IT IS NOT THE FIRST. TIME HIS FAMILY HAS. WEATHERED TRAGEDY AS. >>> FINALLY, BACK HERE.

IN THE DISASTER ZONE, ONE OF OUR OWN. REPORTERS, MORGAN. CHESKY, GREW UP RIGHT. HERE IN KERRVILLE. HIS MOTHER AND. STEPFATHER WAKING UP. TO RISING FLOODWATERS. AND EMERGENCY ALERTS. HIS STEPFATHER. ACTUALLY WADING IN TO. HELP FAMILIES IN THEIR. OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. I WILL LET MORGAN PICK. UP THE STORY FROM. THERE. >> REALLY GLAD TO HAVE. BOTH OF YOU HERE RIGHT. NOW. >> Reporter: GROWING. UP IN KERRVILLE, TEXAS, WHERE THE. WATERS OF THE. GUADALUPE OFFERED A. COOL ESCAPE I WAS. EXCITED WHEN MY MOM.

KAREN AND STEPDAD. MICHAEL RETIRED ON ITS. BANKS. >> WE LOVE THIS RIVER. WE LOVE BEING ON THE. RIVER. WE'VE HAD GRANDKIDS. PLAY IN THIS RIVER, AND IT HAS JUST BEEN. VERY SHOCKING. >> Reporter: SHOCKING. BECAUSE IN THE EARLY. HOURS OF FRIDAY. MORNING, OUR BELOVED. RIVER TURNED INTO. SOMETHING ELSE. ENTIRELY. MY MOM WAKING UP TO A. WEATHER ALERT AT 4:00. A.M. AND POUNDING. RAIN. >> WE COULD SEE THAT. THE WATER WAS ABOUT. FIVE FEET FROM THE. STREET LEVEL. >> I'M BEATING ON THE. RV. >> Reporter: MICHAEL.

WADING THROUGH WATER. TO ALERT FAMILIES IN. NEIGHBORING RVs. >> I'M TELLING THEM. THE RIVER IS OUT OF. THE BANKS, GET UP, GET. UP. AND, FORTUNATELY, THEY. ALL WOKE UP AND WE. DIDN'T HAVE A LOSS OF. LIFE. THEY GOT OUT. >> Reporter: MY MOM IN. THE KITCHEN WHEN SHE. HEARD THE RIVER ROAR. >> THEN BY THE TIME WE. LEFT IT WAS UP RIGHT. ABOUT HERE. >> Reporter: MY MOM. TELLING ME THE RIVER. ROSE 30 FEET IN LESS. THAN AN HOUR. IT WAS THEN THEY WERE. FORCED TO EVACUATE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND.

ATMOSPHERIC. ADMINISTRATION ING. WHAT THEY WOULD RETURN. TO. FOR MICHAEL, COMING. HOME BROUGHT RELIEF. THAT THE HOUSE WAS. STILL THERE, BUT IT IS. WHAT HE SAW NEXT THAT. WILL STAY WITH HIM. >> IT BECAME REAL TO. ME WHEN WE FOUND THE. FIRST BODY. YEAH, A YOUNG GIRL, AND IT WAS JUST, UH, I. JUST -- IT JUST FROZE. ME. I CAN'T WRAP MY MIND. AROUND IT. >> THE ENTIRE. COMMUNITY IS REELING. RIGHT NOW. I THINK WE'RE ALL. STUNNED AND SHOCKED.

THAT THIS HAPPENED. HERE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, WITH SO MUCH TRAGEDY. AROUND THESE WATERS, MY FAMILY KNOWS HOW. LUCKY WE ARE AS. FRIENDS FACE AN. UNIMAGINABLE LOSS. >> WE'RE FINE. >> YEAH. >> I'M GLAD YOU GUYS. ARE OKAY. >> THANK YOU, DAVE. >> THANKS FOR TALKING. TO ME, GUYS. >> YOU CAME HERE FOR. THE VIEW, NOW THIS. >> YEAH. IT HAS BEEN ALTERED.

BUT I HAVE FAITH THAT. IT WILL GROW BACK AND. BE AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT. WAS. >> MORGAN JOINS US. NOW. MORGAN, YOU COME FROM. SOME VERY BRAVE STOCK. THERE. THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE. FROM. WHAT DOES THIS. COMMUNITY NEED FROM. THE REST OF THE. COUNTRY? >> TOM, THIS IS A. RECOVERY THAT'S GOING. TO TAKE YEARS AND IT. HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY. HEARTENING TO SEE ALL. OF THE SUPPLIES THAT. POURED INTO THIS. COMMUNITY. WE HOPE THAT CAN. CONTINUE GOING. FORWARD, BUT AS OF. RIGHT NOW WITH SO MANY. PEOPLE STILL MISSING. LOVED ONES, THE THING. KERRVILLE NEEDS MOST.

IS HOPE. >> MORGAN CHESKY, OUR. THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR. FAMILY AS WELL. >>> FOR MORE WAYS TO. HELP PLEASE GO TO. NBCNEWS.COM TO FIND. OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS". FOR THIS MONDAY. I'M TOM LLAMAS. REPORTING FROM. KERRVILLE, TEXAS. THANKS SO MUCH.