MILWAUKEE - The mayor's niece Molly Flood witnessed Mayor Tom Barrett being beaten with a tire iron. He was trying to save a woman from an attack near State Fair Park. It happened Saturday night August 15.

Flood, 19, tells TODAY'S TMJ4, "It all happened so fast." She notes, "The other night we were looking at our cell phones. From the time my aunt actually called to see if we needed a ride we were a block away from the car to the time that I called 911 it was five minutes. All of this transpired so quickly."

The mayor was also with his sister and two of his daughters when he stepped in to help the woman who was with a child.

He ordered all of his family members into the car. Everyone went except Molly, who is also a student at Marquette University. She says, laughing, "I think it's the Irish stubbornness. I just said if I'm in the car then who knows whether or not he'll come back. I just figured someone needs to be there to diffuse the situation and distract him for a few seconds. Also, to make sure the younger girls get to the car fine."

Many have hailed Mayor Barrett as a hero. But the Mayor believes his niece deserves the praise. She stayed calm while dialing 911.

Was Flood surprised she did not lose her cool? "My initial thought is that if everyone hears me being frantic and screaming over the phone, then they're going to freak out. That's not going to help the situation."

Even though Mayor Barrett said publicly Flood saved his life, she deflects the compliment. The college coed points out, "If Tom hadn't tried to calm the guy down and taken the attention away from the woman and the baby, who knows what would have happened. I think in the situation he's really the hero."

Molly admits witnessing violence has made her more cautious. She has noticed, "You are much more aware of your surroundings. You pick up on details that you might now have seen."

She also believes it helped there were five of them. Flood believes it's important to travel in groups and carry a cell phone. She says, "The cell phone I think saved all of our lives."

By all accounts, Molly Flood showed remarkable grace under pressure. And though she's reluctant to take credit, many agree with the mayor. Molly Flood is also a hero.

But most importantly, Molly knows they all are blessed. Because after those terrifying moments, no one lost their life. As Flood sees it, "It's so amazing that everyone is OK, and everyone got through it alright."

Molly attends Marquette University. Despite this trying ordeal, she refuses to live her life in fear.

She turns twenty this week.