Meridian man who drowned during severe flooding hailed a hero for saving wife
MERIDIAN, Texas (KWTX) - Joseph West, 83, the man who died during devastating flooding Sunday morning, managed to get his wife to safety, his daughter confirmed to KWTX.
“He took care of her, always first,” said Jennifer Williamson, who spoke to KWTX on behalf of her mother.
In the early hours of May 5, the home of Joseph and his wife, Anne, started to flood during a severe storm.
“Daddy’s sitting here and he notices that there’s a little bit of water on the floor,” said Williamson, “They walk back this way, and by the time they get back to the living room, the water is up to their knees.”
Joseph knew he and his wife needed to leave their home, which was near a creek, and go to their RV, which was located on higher ground. The water inside their home kept rising, however, and after no luck with the back door, they tried the front door.
“By the time he busted out the storm door, the water was up to the window that he bust out and he couldn’t get the door to open,” Williamson said.
Next, Joseph went to his bedroom and broke open a window. “He helps my mom out of the window. He reaches around and pulls the bed with the dog and pulls the dog with a thunder shirt and my mom grabs the dog,” Williamson said.
Joseph told his wife to head to higher ground with their dog. When he managed to get out himself, his wife tried to meet him halfway down the hill.
“He said, ‘I’m okay and I’m out, I’m past the concrete, but I can’t get past the current. I’m trying, but I’m having a hard time getting past the current,’” his daughter recalled.
Joseph never made it to higher ground, but managed to help his wife survive the flooding. “My dad was the best dad ever,” said Williamson.
First responders were eventually able to make it to the location, finding and rescuing Anne. After a search of the area, first responders located West’s body.
Investigators believe he was swept away in the rushing water and drowned. “Our prayers are with the family as they mourn the loss of their loved one,” Bosque County Sheriff Trace Hendricks said.
It’s now up to friends and family to help Anne recover and rebuild in the wake of the devastating ordeal.
“My mom doesn’t have a home. She’s staying in a spare bedroom of a friend in town, because this is her home,” Williamson said.
A memorial service for Joseph will be held at One Church in the old movie theater in Clifton next Thursday at 4 p.m. The service is open to the public.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Anne rebuild the home where she lived with her husband for 55 years.
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