Locals work to rescue up to 70 horses along Cypresswood Drive near Humble along Cypress Creek, Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston.Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle

Drowning horses fight for survival in floodwaters

Drowning horses saved from Texas floodwaters

Hero rescuers jumped into Flash flooding in Houston, Texas trapped between 70 to 80 horses that were struggling to keep their heads above water at the Cypress Trails Horse Stables in 2016. The water came up so fast they couldn’t get trailers in to get the animals out.

The horses belong to the Center in the town of Cypresswood, Texas – located right outside of Houston. Many of the horses were struggling in the high floodwaters and became tangled in submerged fences. But a group of rescuers braved the waters to save the animals and their heroic efforts were caught on camera. The creek waters rose to 25 or 27 feet over the normal level.

Emergency responders tried to reach the horses, and in some cases, horse owners and bystanders jumped into the water to help the horses make it out and to dry land! As one rescuer said, “These aren’t just horses, they’re part of the family…” Miraculously, the Office of Emergency Management reported no casualties.

Volunteers flocked to save the drowning animals – traversing the water in life jackets as they attempted to drag them to safety with ropes.

“Most of the horses that were evacuated to the south got to a neighboring farm safely. Most of what you see in the videos were horses in the barn we were trying to move across the currents with boats … or horses we thought had gone to a neighboring ranch but were trying to get back home, which is normal with horses,” Cypress Trails owner Darolyn Butler said. “It was really chaotic.”

“Avoid travel in and around flooded areas,” the warning reads. “Most people who die in flash flooding will die in their vehicles. If in a flooded area stay where you are … at home or at work. Never drive into a flooded roadway. Turn around, don’t drown!”

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