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Eater
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Eater
How to Help the Survivors and Families of the July 2025 Hill Country Floods
Skip to main content Current eater city: Austin On Friday, July 4, rain began to fall in Central Texas, turning into what experts are calling one of the deadliest floods in America in the last century. More than 80 people have been declared dead, and more than 40 more are still missing as of Monday, July 7; 850 have been rescued. On the Fourth of July, flash floods hit the Guadalupe River overnight, raising water levels by 26 feet in 45 minutes. At Camp Mystic in Kerrville, 27 campers and counselors, most young girls, are dead. The majority of the deaths occurred in Kerr County, which is directly west of Austin and just northwest of San Antonio. Flood risks are ongoing as rain in the state continues. Rescue efforts are ongoing for missing people across Central Texas, with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pledging to continue the search for the missing. On Sunday, July 6, President Donald Trump signed a federal disaster declaration for Kerr County, making assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) available for the search efforts and extending help to those affected. The move comes days after the passage of the president's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' whose proposed cuts included taking potentially $664 million in funding from federal agencies like FEMA. In the recently ended 2025 session of the Texas Legislature, House Bill 13 was introduced to address state-wide improvements to disaster response, which included funding for counties, notably rural, to buy new emergency alert equipment and build new infrastructure to help emergency communications, such as radio towers. It failed in the Senate. State representative Wes Virdell, who represents Kerrville and other areas impacted by the floods, voted against the bill. He told the Texas Tribune that, in hindsight and with the first-hand experience he has had in the past few days searching for survivors with first responders, he would vote differently now. Judge Rob Kelly, the top elected official in Kerr County, told the BBC that high costs stopped the installation of a county-administered warning system, which was analyzed six years ago. Staffing issues have also been a cause of concern, with an unstaffed warning meteorologist position in the Austin/San Antonio office of the National Weather Service. The person who previously held the position took a retirement buyout from the Trump administration earlier this year, CNN reports, and the role has not been refilled. Businesses and restaurants across Central Texas have already begun efforts to assist those impacted by the ongoing floods. H-E-B, the Texas grocery store chain, is known for showing up when natural disasters strike in the state. (H-E-B opened its first store in Kerrville.) The company sent a caravan of 18-wheelers loaded with supplies to Kerr County the day after those deadly floods struck, according to a report in MySA. 'As part of our initial outreach [in Kerrville], we are working closely with the Red Cross, local officials, and first responders to support their needs,' a statement from H-E-B, posted to its website on July 5, says. 'Additionally, we have sent aid to support efforts in San Angelo, Marble Falls, and other impacted areas.' During a press conference on July 6, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. said H-E-B would be setting up a mobile kitchen in Ingram, Texas, reports KHOU. Texas-based fast food chain Whataburger is also on the ground providing meals to first responders. 'We know the process of recovery and rebuilding isn't just about responding in a moment of crisis, but in supporting our neighbors in the months ahead,' the burger company shared in a statement on its social media. World Central Kitchen, a non-profit founded by chef José Andrés that provides meals in areas hit by disaster, is on-site in the affected communities, feeding warm meals to first responders, families at reunification centers, and working with local officials to get to communities in need of food. Speaking to CNN, World Kitchen's response director, Samantha Elfmont, said, 'We need to make sure that people are fed breakfast, lunch, and dinner and take care of themselves [and] get that nourishment they need, because these days are long and we don't know what's ahead.' Mercy Chefs, a non-profit, faith-based organization founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina by chefs Gary and Ann LeBlanc, provides high-quality, professionally prepared meals to victims of disasters. Mercy Chefs' local responders located in Central Texas have served first responders and survivors of the floods. In a post on Instagram, the team wrote: 'We served hundreds of first responders working around the clock to find those still missing and began feeding volunteers and families who have lost everything. Many came shaken and grieving, just needing a warm meal and hoping to see a friendly face. They left with full plates and, we pray, a little more strength to face what's next.' The organization seeks donations to continue its work. A loose coalition of Central Texas breweries has converted their locations into donation drop-off sites, and some are using beer trucks to get donations to people in the affected areas. All are posting updated lists of which donations are most needed currently on their Instagram pages. Participating locations include Jester King Brewery, the ABGB, the Brewtorium, South Austin Beer Garden in Austin, 12 Fox Beer and Treaty Oak Distilling in Dripping Springs, Bold Republic Brewing in Temple, Fifth Element Brewing in Leander, and Pecan Street Brewing in Johnson City. Requested items include bottled water, medical supplies, non-perishable food, socks, underwear, flashlights and batteries, kids' clothing, diapers, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and pet food. The Southern Smoke Foundation, a Houston-based organization run by chef Chris Shepherd, plans to offer disaster relief in the coming weeks to food and beverage workers impacted by the floods, it said in an Instagram post. Many Austin restaurants are donating some or all of the proceeds of sales to benefit flood victims. Curras Grill is accepting donations of essential items at its Oltorf and Hyde Park locations, and will donate 10 percent of all sales during its donation-gathering campaign to 'further assist and uplift the Kerrville community.' Buffalina's locations on Cesar Chavez and Burnet Road will host a fundraiser on Monday, July 7, in which it will donate profits from all margherita pizzas sold to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. The Five O Four pop-up at Long Play Lounge is using its Monday, July 7, Oyster Night event to raise money and collect donations. One hundred percent of tips, which can be increased at checkout, along with 10 percent of all sales, will go to Hands Off Central TX, which is currently holding a flood mutual aid drive. It is accepting clothes, hygiene kits, water, and more to donate. Hopdaddy Burger Bar is donating 100 percent of profits from the day on Wednesday, July 9, to Texas Search and Rescue, which is helping to locate still missing flood victims. Boudin Acres is accepting donations of all essential items and doing a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $5,000, for monetary donations made directly to its Venmo through Friday, July 11. Peeler Farms is accepting donations of food to prepare meals for first responders in Kerrville, specifically of pork butts and shoulders, bags of chips, granola bars, and any meats that are easy to cook in large quantities. Drop off at Comedor in Austin or Millscale in Lockhart. The Commodore Perry Estate is a drop-off location for donations of bottled water, canned foods, clothing, hygiene products, trash bags, brooms, shovels, cleaning supplies, and basic emergency medical supplies. Hai Hospitality has partnered with Mercy Chefs to provide food and assistance in feeding those affected. Guests at Loro locations can round up their checks to donate directly, and plans to donate $20,000 in sales from all Texas locations of Uchi, Uchiko, and Uchiba to the organization, a spokesperson tells Eater. Lucky Lab Coffee Co.'s Dripping Springs location is a drop-off site for pet food and supplies for affected pets. It also accepts Petco, H-E-B, Amazon, Visa, and similar gift cards, as well as non-prescription pet medicines. Double Trouble will host an emergency donation drive during its Dungeons and Dragons karaoke night on Saturday, July 12. It seeks cleaning supplies, toiletries, diapers, formula, non-perishable foods, gently used clothing, pet supplies, and pet food. Spare Birdie in Cedar Park is a donation drop site through July 11, accepting bottled water, diapers, baby wipes, basic hygiene goods, trash bags, bleach, cleaning supplies, brooms, shovels, new socks, new underwear, flashlights, and batteries. Soup Leaf Hotpot will donate 40 percent of its profits on Wednesday, July 9 to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. Corner Bar is accepting pet-related donations through Sunday, July 13, on behalf of Austin Pets Alive, which will in turn donate to flood victims. Radio Coffee and Beer will match in-store donations at all its locations, up to $10,000. The funds will be donated to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. Eater Austin will continue to update this list as new donation locations and fundraisers are announced. See More:
Axios
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Texas state leaders didn't prioritize flood management
As Texas state leaders have prioritized spending on border security and property tax cuts, they have been far more reluctant to fund flood management efforts. Why it matters: Texas leads the nation by a wide margin in flood deaths. More than 1,000 people died in Texas floods from 1959 to 2019, according to an academic analysis, most having occurred in the Hill Country. Local officials in areas like Kerr County have struggled to secure funding for basic warning systems and have instead relied on National Weather Service text alerts and word-of-mouth to alert residents of flooding, rather than costly outdoor siren systems. The big picture: Despite Texas' vulnerability, the state didn't complete a comprehensive statewide assessment of flood risk and solutions until last year. "Planning, in the long term, is going to save lives; it's going to protect people; it's going to reduce misery ... not just in monetary costs but also in human suffering," Reem Zoun, the director of flood planning for the Texas Water Development Board, told members of the board last August. "What we do will not eliminate flooding. If we have large storms, we're still going to flood — but if we work properly and proactively, and have appropriate floodplain management practices, we will see less impact." By the numbers: Though the Texas Water Development Board has identified more than $54 billion in needed flood-control projects, lawmakers have only allocated roughly $669 million so far, the New York Times reported Monday. This year, the Legislature approved $2.5 billion for the Texas Water Fund — used to finance water projects in Texas, including conservation, desalination, and flood mitigation — with the possibility of $1 billion per year over 20 years using sales tax revenue, pending voter approval in November. Lawmakers also passed Senate Bill 1967, expanding projects that can be awarded from the Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund. One key proposal, House Bill 13, would have created a state council to establish a unified disaster response and alert system, but it stalled in the Senate after some Republican lawmakers questioned its cost. The bill would have required the council to consider the use of outdoor warning sirens and implement an emergency alert system. "I can tell you in hindsight, watching what it takes to deal with a disaster like this, my vote would probably be different now," state Rep. Wes Virdell, a Republican who represents Kerr County, told the Texas Tribune. Zoom in: In the Hill Country, technological and infrastructure barriers have slowed adoption of modern flood alerts. Kerrville officials explored installing a warning system in 2017 but rejected the idea over its price tag. The county later missed out on a $1 million grant and, as recently as 2023, was still weighing other funding options, according to KXAN. Outdoor emergency sirens may have given people more time to escape, former Kerr County commissioner Tom Moser told the New York Times, but a single siren can cost as high as $50,000. What's next: Gov. Greg Abbott indicated Sunday that he'll include the notification issue on the upcoming special session agenda.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Texas flooding: Kerr County said no to alert sirens over cost — now it's facing the consequences
Kerr County Siren System Rejected Over Cost Concerns State Bill to Improve Alerts Failed in Senate Lawmakers Now Rethinking Their Vote Live Events Flash Flood Strikes While Residents Slept No Backup Alert System in Place Governor Acknowledges Need for Change FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel When the Guadalupe River rose from one foot to over 34 feet in just a few hours, inundating parts of Kerr County in the early morning on Friday while most residents were asleep and by the time many realized what was happening, it was already too late, as per a report. This has led to increased scrutiny about Kerr County's past decisions to reject an outdoor siren alert system because of cost concerns, as reported by Latin Kerr County is located in a flood-prone region of the Texas Hill Country, there were proposals for siren-based warning systems, but they were previously rejected because of the financial burden on local taxpayers, according to the this year, an effort at the state level to improve the emergency communication infrastructure, House Bill 13, failed in the Texas Senate, as reported by Latin Times. Bill 13 was to fund the improved disaster alert systems and provided grants for counties to build infrastructure like sirens and radio towers, as per the READ: Trump's tariffs may split the world into 3 rival blocs — here's where each nation could land But a few lawmakers, like state Rep. Wes Virdell, had voted against it because of its projected $500 million cost, though several now are saying that they would reconsider their stance as flash flooding killed about 82 people statewide, with 68 of them in Kerr County alone, according to Latin Times who were killed were attending camps or camping along the river, and even though mobile alerts were issued via the National Weather Service, many residents are believed to have not seen the warnings because they were issued in the early morning hours, or many even lacked access to mobile devices, as per the READ: Flyers fume as Southwest Airlines shocks passengers with policy changes — key updates you need to know According to the report, only a county-wide siren system could have served as a secondary, audible layer of alert, which Kerr County never implemented. Now the local and state officials are trying to search, conduct rescue operations, and support survivors, as per Latin Gov. Greg Abbott now admitted to the potential value of better alert systems and highlighted that future legislation might address the issue, but he declined to commit to including it in the special session beginning July 21, as reported by Latin READ: Wolfspeed stock soars over 100% after shock CFO appointment — who is Gregor van Issum? The county had considered outdoor sirens in the past but rejected the idea, citing cost rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise over 34 feet in just a few hours, as per Latin Times.
Int'l Business Times
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Int'l Business Times
Flooded Texas County Opposed Siren Alert System That Could Have Warned Residents Because of the Cost
As the death toll from flash floods in Central Texas climbs past 80, scrutiny is mounting over Kerr County's past decisions to reject an outdoor siren alert system due to cost concerns. Kerr County, located in a flood-prone region of the Texas Hill Country, has previously dismissed proposals for siren-based warning systems, citing financial burden on local taxpayers. A recent effort at the state level to bolster emergency communication infrastructure, House Bill 13, failed in the Texas Senate earlier this year. The bill would have funded improved disaster alert systems and provided grants for counties to build infrastructure like sirens and radio towers, according to the Texas Tribune . Some lawmakers, including state Rep. Wes Virdell, voted against it due to its projected $500 million cost, though several now admit they're reconsidering in the wake of recent events. On Friday, torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to swell from one foot to over 34 feet in just a few hours, inundating parts of Kerr County in the early morning hours while most residents were asleep. The flash flooding killed at least 82 people statewide, 68 of them in Kerr County alone, many attending camps or camping along the river. While mobile alerts were issued through the National Weather Service, many residents are believed to have not seen the warnings due to them being issued in the early morning hours, or lacked access to mobile devices altogether. A county-wide siren system could have served as a secondary, audible layer of alert, but Kerr County never implemented one. Local and state officials are now focused on search and rescue operations and supporting survivors. Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledged the potential value of better alert systems and said future legislation could address the issue, though he declined to commit to including it in the special session beginning July 21. Originally published on Latin Times
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Texas lawmakers failed to pass a bill to improve local flood warning systems this year
For the last three days, state Rep. Wes Virdell has been out with first responders in Kerr County as they searched for victims and survivors from the devastating floods that swept through Central Texas early Friday morning. 'All the focus right now is let's save all the lives we can,' Virdell, who was still on the scene in Kerrville, told The Texas Tribune on Sunday. Virdell's closeup view of the havoc wreaked on his district has made a lasting impression, he said, and left him reconsidering a vote he made just a few months ago against a bill that would have established a grant program for counties like Kerr to improve the warning systems they use to notify residents of life-threatening disasters. 'I can tell you in hindsight, watching what it takes to deal with a disaster like this, my vote would probably be different now,' the freshman GOP lawmaker said. The measure, House Bill 13, also would have created a new government body to craft a statewide plan for using emergency equipment. It died in the Texas Senate, prompting newfound questions about whether lawmakers should have done more to help rural, cash-strapped counties stave off the deadly effects of future natural disasters. As of Sunday evening, at least 79 people had died in the floods. Of those, 68 were in Kerr County, many of them camping or attending a private summer camp along the Guadalupe River. Virdell, a Hill Country native who lives in Brady, about 100 miles away, made his way to Kerrville early Friday after seeing news that rains raised the Guadalupe more than two feet, swamping its banks in Hunt and other river communities that host thousands of holiday vacationers. He stressed an alarm system, such as sirens used in tornado-prone Texas counties, may not have helped much in this instance because the floodwaters came so quickly. Between 2 and 7 a.m., the Guadalupe River in Kerrville rose from 1 to more than 34 feet in height, according to a flood gauge in the area. 'I don't think there was enough evidence to even suspect something like this was going to happen,' he said. 'I think even if you had a warning system there, this came in so fast and early in the morning it's very unlikely the warning system would have had much effect.' Virdell said he doesn't recall the specifics of the bill or why he opposed it, though he guessed 'it had to do with how much funding' was tied to the measure. State Rep. Ken King's HB 13 would have created The Texas Interoperability Council and tasked it with crafting a statewide strategic plan governing the use of emergency equipment and infrastructure. Even if it had passed, it would not have gone into effect until Sept. 1, after the Hill Country flooding. The bill would have also created a statewide communications network for first responders and provided grants for counties to help pay for improved communications and warning systems, including radio towers. The bill's initial $500 million cost drew heavy criticism from fellow Republicans including state Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington. 'This shouldn't be about anything other than the fact that it's a half a billion dollars,' Tinderholt, a hardline conservative and budget hawk, said during the April 1 House floor debate. 'This is probably one of the most simple votes we should be able to take today. It's that this interoperability council is going to spend money to try and get these departments to be able to talk together.' Steven Aranyi, a spokesperson for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, noted that lawmakers — including the Texas Senate, which Patrick oversees — made several 'unprecedented' investments in disaster response during this year's legislative session, totaling $547 million. That included: * $257 million for disaster response aircraft, * $135 million for regional operation facilities, * $90 million to provide ambulances to rural counties, * $65 million for emergency response drone technology. The flaw with HB 13, Aranyi said, was that it proposed rolling out the local grant money over an estimated timeline of up to 10 years. 'By the time any system was developed, it would be outdated due to advances in technology,' Aranyi said. 'The grants in the bill were limited to planning purposes only; they did not support disaster response.' King, R-Canadian, filed the bill in response to the devastating wildfires last year that engulfed the Panhandle, when more than 1 million acres burned and three people died. King, who lost part of his property in the fires, said he found communication problems as he led the investigative committee last year. King did not immediately return a call seeking comment. As the disaster quickly unfolded in Kerr County, located in the heart of an area known for flash floods, much has been made of the fact that the county lacked a siren system that counties in other parts of Texas have to alert residents of tornadoes. Such a system has been considered before in Kerr County, but quickly dismissed because the high cost would fall alone on local taxpayers. A flash flood watch was issued by the National Weather Service by Thursday afternoon for the region. Then, in the middle of the night, at 1:14 a.m. Friday, a flash food warning was issued as possibly 'catastrophic,' for Bandera and Kerr Counties, according to the NWS. Those alerts would have automatically triggered Wireless Emergency Alerts on enabled mobile devices, the weather service said. But because the alerts went out when most residents and visitors were asleep, coupled with the fact that many of those children attending summer camp as well as their counselors were without cell phones, the alerts likely went unheeded by many. Residents who were up before daylight on Friday 4 reported rain misting by 3 a.m. but nothing out of the ordinary. That changed quickly by 5 a.m. Friday when flooding was detected on roadways in Kerr County. The flooding reached its peak at around 6:45 a.m. in Kerrville, hours after warnings were first issued, according to the local flood gauge. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly told reporters on Saturday local residents have rejected the idea of a siren system due to its expense when it had been suggested before. 'The public reeled at the cost,' Kelly said. At a news conference on Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott left the door open to legislation aimed at improving emergency warning systems, but stopped short of saying he would put it on the agenda for lawmakers to consider during the special session he has scheduled to begin July 21. 'It's going to be something that will be looked at,' Abbott said. 'The reality also is this, and that is, what's needed in that river basin at that location could be far different than it was needed in some other river basin across the state.' For now, Virdell said his focus and that of officials in Kerr County is on locating more victims and helping residents. He said the collaboration between local responders and those others coming in from around the state has been 'amazing.' Talk of warning systems and how to improve communications will eventually happen, Virdell said, adding that, right now, the focus needs to be on the immediate community. 'That's the No. 1 priority for now,' he said. 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