ANCHOR: Another round of storms and heavy rain is pounding parts of Texas this morning. But first—we want to bring in Libby and Doug Fuller, who survived the devastating flooding in Ingram, Texas. Libby, Doug—thank you both so much for joining us.
Libby, let me start with you. How are you holding up this morning? And where are you staying right now?
LIBBY: Right now, we’re at my in-laws’. We’ve got a spot on an air mattress—but we’re safe. That’s what matters. Honestly, just being back out here, this close to the river… it’s the closest I’ve been since that morning. Since we were ripped out of our house.
ANCHOR: Doug, I understand you were literally swept out of your home by the floodwaters. Can you walk us through what happened?
DOUG: It started just before 4 a.m. It had been raining lightly, and I stepped outside to check on the weather. A motorcyclist had pulled in to ride out the storm—he was parked nearby.
When I walked out, I could hear the river. Loud. But we couldn’t see the water yet. I headed back inside. By then, I saw water creeping into the parking lot. I went to wake Libby—told her we might get some water damage. Just thought maybe the floorboards would get wet.
But while she was getting dressed… I looked outside and saw our car floating away.
ANCHOR: Floating away?
DOUG: Yeah. That’s when I knew it wasn’t just water damage. It was going to be so much worse. Within ten minutes, the water was nearly touching the ceiling.
We climbed onto our mattress and floated there, trying to stay calm. We were trapped. We didn’t want to open the door, but we also knew we couldn’t just sit there forever.
Then the doors burst open.
The current sucked us out. We jammed ourselves into the doorway, trying to hold on. Our neighbor was outside—he was clinging to a support post. I grabbed his hand… and with the other, I grabbed Libby. We held on. We just held on. For two hours, we rode it out.
ANCHOR: Absolutely terrifying. And yet—you survived.
Libby, I heard you went to work after all this. Is that true?
LIBBY: I did. I was scheduled to work a double that Friday—it was the 4th of July. But after the flood, after the ambulances got us to the fire station, I asked my father-in-law to stop by my job to let them know I wouldn’t make it.
We’d lost our phones, had no way to contact anyone. When I got out of the hospital, I tried calling again—still no answer. The next morning, I went to Walmart, bought a new set of work clothes, and just… went back in. Showed up.
ANCHOR: After everything, you just walked back in?
LIBBY: Yeah. No one expected to see me. My boss looked at me like he’d seen a ghost. I didn’t even know we’d been listed as missing. I had no idea about any of it.
But once I was there, I helped prepare meals and deliver food to the first responders. It felt good to help. And honestly? I needed the paycheck. We lost everything. I had to start rebuilding immediately.
ANCHOR: That says so much about your resilience. Your heart.
Doug, before we go—this is your first time back at the scene. What’s going through your mind as you look around right now?
DOUG (voice trembling): Gratitude. Pure and simple. We made it out. A lot of people didn’t. And I know the death toll may still rise.
We lost our house. Our car. Everything we owned. But we still have each other. That’s all that really matters. This woman right here—she’s my rock. And as long as we’re standing, we’ll find a way forward.
My dad is out there right now, part of the cleanup crew. Those are the heroes—the ones who stayed behind to rebuild, the first responders, the volunteers. We owe them everything.
ANCHOR: Libby. Doug. We’re so incredibly thankful you’re safe. Your strength, your story—it’s inspiring. And we’re sending you every ounce of support as you rebuild.