A Lot Could Have Go Wrong
Driving to Louisiana seemed like the most local course of action, but a lot could have gone wrong on the long journey. Wagner could have ended up driving back to Texas and finding out that the roads were closed on his way back because of too much flooding, thus stranding him away from his family and his home until the floodwaters subsided. There was, of course, another scenario, where he might make it back to but get himself caught in the flood anyway, completely unable to save his home. Either way, Wagner still felt like he had to take the opportunity to save his home, even if it ended in disaster.