A high school prom queen in Texas died over the weekend after drowning in the powerful floodwaters that have forced the evacuation of thousands.
Alyssa Ramirez of Devine, Texas, was on her way home from post-prom festivities when surging floodwaters swept away her car, which had stalled out just
miles from her home, according to San Antonio's Fox29.
“She did the right things,” Roberta Ramirez, the victim's aunt, told the local station. “She called 911. She called her father, but it was just too much and too quick.”
The teen's mother and father reportedly went out looking for her, but it was too late.
“They weren’t able to find her until this morning," Roberta Ramirez said. “When crews were out here, they were able to locate the vehicle which wasn’t too far away.”
The 18-year-old was homecoming queen, a cheerleader, a tennis player, and a volleyball player. Classmates told Fox29 that she will be remembered for her vibrant smile. Adding to her memory, Devine High School will honor Ramirez with a
flagpole ceremony on Tuesday, according to Fox News Latino.
A streak of storms that stretched from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico dumped record rainfall on parts of the Plains and Midwest, causing major flooding and creating tornadoes that demolished or damaged more than 1,000 homes in Texas and forced at least 2,000 residents to vacate their homes.
“You cannot candy-coat it. It’s absolutely massive,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, according to Fox News Latino, after witnessing the destruction.
The governor has declared 37 counties as disaster areas so far, allowing the further mobilization of state resources to assist
After news of Ramirez’s death broke, many on Twitter began to share remorse and sadness for her family’s loss.