20 Years, 20 Stories – Jonathan McComb: The One Who Survived
“When I got out of the hospital after about four days, I went to the local church where people were serving food to the volunteers who were helping with the searches and clean up. I wanted to thank them for their work, and when I introduced myself as Jonathan McComb, they would say, ‘You’re the one who survived!’ I knew that God allowed me to survive for a reason. Expressing my gratitude to the volunteers and support to those who are dealing with challenging times are much of my purpose since then.”
“Then” was the Memorial Day Wimberley Flood Event of 2015. He and his family were enjoying time at their friend’s vacation home on the Blanco River, celebrating his and his wife’s tenth wedding anniversary and the long weekend, when the horrific flooding swept through, washing away the home, his wife and two children, as well as five others who were in the home. He was the sole survivor of the group of nine, although it almost didn’t turn out that way.
“I was struggling to survive while the river carried me, and I felt sure that my wife and children had not made it, so I gave up and quit trying to survive. Then I hit my head on something underwater that startled me and I thought ‘God, if you want me to share this story, I need your help to get out of this.’ Sometime after, and 11 miles downriver I was able to crawl out of the river onto the bank. Again, I said to God that if he wanted me to share the story that I would need help to get out. It took three tries to make it up a 30–45-foot sheer cliff, falling off twice, but I made it out”
Once he made it, Jonathan spent time in the hospital to recover from a variety of injuries. His life of faith helped him. While in the hospital, he learned about TEXSAR’s volunteers, among many, who were looking diligently for his family members. He shared with his mother that he owed it to the volunteers to help and, to those who were suffering, a shoulder to lean on. He has held true to his word.
Jonathan joined TEXSAR as a sign of support and appreciation, and also committed to be of help to others in various ways. He is an active member, certified in Swiftwater rescue, and has served on TEXSAR’s board of directors; and is currently a member of the advisory board. Volunteerism is not the only place where his commitment is being fulfilled; Jonathan finds himself called upon in a variety of ways to provide hope, encouragement and faith to others who are dealing with losses, tragedies and challenges. “God has me in certain places at certain times because there is someone who needs the message that I carry,” he said.
“Life goes on,” he said. “It has to, and you have to move forward with hope and faith and accept the paths that God puts you on. I am in the process of closing the longtime family business and am excited about what God has in store for me and have thought about writing a book to share my experiences to help others. I have been sharing my story since the flood, and if requested I am willing to share my testimony wherever I may be called. Even through tragedy, God has provided many blessings in my life. In 2019 I married my wife, Monika, and we have been blessed with our beautiful little girl Scarlett (4). These events have also opened many doors, and we will be relocating to Hays County, to my wife’s family property. I find this interesting because this is the county that has produced so much heartbreak for myself and so many others and is now the county that also holds so much promise and love. Both have been formed by my life experiences, just miles apart from each other.
TEXSAR volunteers never know the impact of their work, nor the ripple effect of their service. Jonathan is proof that lives affected by service can turn into lives of service.
Learn more about TEXSAR at www.TEXSAR.org.
TEXSAR: 20 Years, 20 Stories, is a series of people-centric stories that celebrate the history of TEXSAR’s heroics and humanity as its volunteers continue their mission of ‘Texans helping Texans’ with Service above Self. The sequence of stories and profiles will come together in 2024 and 2025, celebrating the nonprofit’s 20th anniversary. To read more, click here.
