safety
‘There was nobody out here. It was me.’: First responder recalls day the flood hit Hunt
By Andrea Slaydon, Beth Peak at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· July 7, 2026
· 6 min read
When Sgt. Tyler Cottonware woke up before dawn that morning, he expected a busy day.The City of Kerrville Police sergeant had plans to work the Fourth of July festivities. He knew it had rained overnight. He knew flooding was possible.What he didn’t know was that within hours he would find himsel...
Key takeaway “I woke up at about 3:45,” Cottonware recalled.
Why this matters in The Pearland
For Pearland residents, the story of Sgt. Tyler Cottonware's heroic efforts during the flood in Hunt serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of severe weather events. While Pearland is not typically considered part of the Hill Country, the city's location within the Houston area means that its residents are not immune to the effects of heavy rainfall and flooding. In fact, Pearland has experienced its own share of flooding in recent years, highlighting the need for continued investment in flood mitigation and emergency preparedness measures. As the city moves forward with its own flood control projects, the bravery and selflessness of first responders like Sgt. Cottonware should be at the forefront of residents' minds, underscoring the importance of supporting local emergency services and being prepared for the unexpected. By learning from the experiences of other communities, Pearland can work towards creating a more resilient and responsive emergency management system.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Pearland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 7, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 6 min
Get more The Pearland stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering safety and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? When Sgt. Tyler Cottonware woke up before dawn that morning, he expected a busy day.The City of Kerrville Police sergeant had plans to work the Fourth of July festivities. He knew it had rained overnight. He knew flooding was possible.What he didn’t know was that within hours he would find himsel...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 7, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Pearland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Andrea Slaydon, Beth Peak at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Pearland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Pearland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More safety →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter