Minnesota Couple Becomes Unlikely Heroes Amid Texas Flash Flood Disaster
As sirens blared and floodwaters surged through central Texas, panic and confusion spread across a quiet campground nestled near the Guadalupe River.
Campers, roused from their sleep by an unfamiliar blaring horn, scrambled into the night—still unaware that a wall of water was minutes away from swallowing the site whole.
The horn didn’t come from emergency services. It came from Lyle and Sue Glenna, a retired couple from Minnesota spending the summer as part-time campground hosts.
Without official warnings or alarms, the Glennas became the first—and only—alert system for dozens of sleeping vacationers. Their spontaneous decision to lay on the horn and drive through the grounds proved lifesaving.
“They just acted,” said their son, Wes Glenna, in a CBS interview. “They knew time was running out and used the only tool they had—their truck horn.”
Over the course of mere minutes, the Guadalupe River rose by 26 feet, transforming a peaceful campground into a raging torrent.
Vehicles floated away. Cabins were crushed. Lives were lost. At least 104 people are confirmed dead across the state following the storm.
Yet amidst the tragedy, the Glennas’ quick thinking gave many the time they needed to escape.
“That sound—the horn—it woke people up. It got them moving,” said a fellow camper. “Otherwise, we would’ve been caught in our sleep.”
The couple managed to flee with little more than their truck. Everything else—clothes, possessions, and memories—was swept away. In the aftermath, Lyle suffered a heart attack, likely brought on by the trauma and strain. Thankfully, he has since been released from the hospital and is recovering.
A GoFundMe campaign launched by family and friends has already raised over $24,000, offering the Glennas a lifeline as they navigate their loss. One recent update shared:
“Thanks to your support, Lyle was discharged with a new CPAP machine. That would have been impossible without this community.”
Though the future remains uncertain—especially with insurance questions still unresolved—the outpouring of support has helped the Glennas begin to heal.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage
In moments of crisis, true character is revealed. Lyle and Sue Glenna had no sirens, no training, and no warning system.
What they had was instinct, compassion, and the courage to act for others in a moment of chaos. Their selflessness didn’t just make noise—it saved lives.
Their story is a moving reminder that heroism isn’t always about grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s simply about refusing to look away—and doing what you can, with what you have, when it matters most.