Latest news with #Kerrville
Fox News
20 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
Texas flood recovery volunteers find dignity in helping victims
Janice Riley took off her shoe, thinking a rock had gotten stuck inside while she was volunteering in flood-devastated Kerrville, Texas, but was surprised to find a bent nail lodged in the sole, just centimeters from her foot. "It reminds me of the verse that says, 'How beautiful are the feet that bring good news', she said while laughing." Riley was working along the Guadalupe River, but that nail didn't stop her from cleaning up mud-soaked houses and attempting to piece together devastated lives. As she walked into each house, she saw the aftermath of the flood marked by water stains several feet high on the wall. TEXAS FLOOD SURVIVORS LOOK FOR GOD IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY While removing gunk, sweeping and prepping homes for installation, Riley ran into a homeowner in search of meaningful family heirlooms in a sea of debris and filth. Amid the rubble, Riley stumbled upon a wooden box already beginning to mold, filled with gold and silver. As she and the homeowner opened it, a sigh of relief overcame them, since the survivor had prayed she would find it. "You couldn't help but cry at her excitement of finding those treasures," said Riley. "It wouldn't mean anything to us, but it meant something to her." To Riley, that's what matters, and she will remember that as the highlight of volunteering. But then she paused. The moment she reconciled the gravity of her community's situation, she began to cry. "It's not going to be back to normal anytime soon," she said. "There's still water over the low water crossing, and just how much of the river is destroyed, and the area." The tears started to flow. The once beautiful cypress trees, decades old, that stood beautifully, are now gone. She said she feels nothing's going to be the same. "It just kind of sinks in, it's not like a week and a month will pass this, and we'll be back to normal," she said. That new reality survivors face is something Michelle Annette saw as a volunteer for the Salvation Army, where flood victims are surviving out of warehouses and donation bins. As she arrived, on her first day, she was assigned to organize clothing donations for victims. Sounds easy enough. Until Annette was given a direction that didn't sit right with her. "If you come across any clothing items that you think could potentially be used for funerals for the victims, put 'em in bins over here," Michelle was told. "We're going to set those aside." That's when it hit her. "If I pull out a nice dress or something that was donated, I have to think, would this be something I would want my sister buried in, or my aunt buried in or something?" she pondered. 'RIVER OF ANGELS' MEMORIAL RISES IN KERRVILLE AS FLOOD VICTIMS REMEMBERED To her, it's more than just a bin. It represents humanity. How can an outfit she picks begin to encapsulate the body of a stranger, once full of life? Not too far away, Lisa Aguillen, a San Antonio resident, also had a moment with death she couldn't shake. As she drove down to Kerrville with friends in their ministry's van, they came upon what seemed to be a horrific movie scene. Men clouded by smoke as they used chainsaws to cut through huge mounds of trees. The rhythmic whooping grew louder in the air as search helicopters made their way for the missing. Then came the moment that changed her. "I saw a body lifted out of a river in a bag," she said. "I was very angry with God on that drive home. Why, God, did you allow those children to pass in such a horrific manner?" she asked. As she contemplated that question, Annette remained at the Salvation Army, trying to stay present and focusing on the survivors piling into the warehouse. The more that flowed in, the more heartbreaking stories she would overhear. One man whose house was washed away stood out. "He had nothing but the clothes on his back and the shoes on his feet. He didn't have his ID, and he didn't have a car," said Annette. She handed him underwear, a razor and a shirt. At that moment, Annette realized he would have to rebuild his life with those items. FAITH BRINGS LIGHT TO DEVASTATED TEXAS TOWN AFTER DEADLY FLOODING DISASTER Seeing the wreckage in Kerrville, Aguillen understood that even with donations, survivors had little. As she reflected, she was more motivated to make a difference. Aguillen knew she could rely on contacts from her insurance company, Texas United Insurance Services, LLC, for donations for a cause bigger than herself. "I came to the office this week and started calling every business owner in my book," she said. So far, she has raised $5,000 and plans to drive back down to Kerrville and hand it out to people in need. Although she feels it may not be a lot of money, she says every bit counts. "I want to see these people go to the bank and cash and have cash in hand," she said. "I can bless several, several families with $500 a piece, and that's what I intend on doing." Although the volunteers, Riley, Annette and Aguillen faced hardship while spending hours putting themselves through hard work, they realized their service had in their community and brought power to the lives of those they were serving. Annette summed it up in one word. "Time," she said. "It is our most valuable commodity, and what makes it so valuable is that we can't make more of it. So how we decide to spend it speaks so much more than just donating."
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Floods Impact Big Bend And Other Texas Travel Destinations
Flood waters left debris, including vehicles and equipment scattered in Louise Hays Park on July 5 in Kerrville, Texas. (Photo by) Getty Images The country mourns for so many people killed or injured—and properties ruined or damaged—in the Texas floods. Parks and travel destinations also took a hit. The Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation, which presents popular music events throughout the year canceled its Oct. 10-12 Welcome Home Fest 2025. 'Right now, our focus is on providing relief, shelter and hospitality to those affected by this disaster,' the foundation states on its website. 'We're pouring our energy into supporting our neighbors.' The flooding has closed Kerrville's Louise Hays Park for day use and through traffic 'until further notice,' the City of Kerrville's website says. 'This closure encompasses the Kerrville Rivertrail and all access points. Kindly refrain from attempting to enter these facilities through any access points.' Kerrville sits on the banks of the Guadalupe River River, which overflowed and tragically swept away many summer campers and others. The city in the Texas Hill Country is about a two-hour drive west from Austin and a one-hour drive north from San Antonio. Other areas also suffered damage, as far away as Big Bend National Park, a 388-mile, six-hour drive from Kerrville. 'The tourism infrastructure in Texas has taken a major hit,' the trade website Travel and Tour World reports. 'Popular tourist destinations like state parks, historic landmarks and natural reserves have been either temporarily closed or severely damaged.' Search and rescue teams navigate upstream in an inflatable boat on the flooded Guadalupe River on July 4 in Comfort, Texas. (Photo by) Getty Images Local businesses dependent on tourism have faced a sharp decline in visitors. 'Hotels, bed and breakfasts and local restaurants that once thrived during the summer tourism season have seen a significant drop in foot traffic,' Travel and Tour World says. 'With much of the local population displaced or involved in recovery efforts, businesses are struggling to stay afloat.' At Big Bend National Park, which welcomed 561,469 visitors last year, there are numerous road closures. The park has 304 miles of paved and gravel roads. 'The road to Santa Elena (Route 16) is closed due to water and debris,' the Big Bend Daily reported on July 20. 'Most dirt roads are closed, check the visitor center for updates. Your safety is your responsibility, be prepared to self-rescue.' The park's website says that due to heavy rain and flooding over the past few days, the following steps have been taken until further notice: Hot Springs Road is closed. The road between Cottonwood Campground and Santa Elena Canyon is closed. Old Maverick Road is closed. Old Ore Road is closed. Dagger Flat isclosed. Most dirt roads in the park are closed. Most backcountry drive-in campsites are closed. 'After storms, debris and standing water may be present in low-lying areas along Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and the road between Panther Junction and Rio Grande Village,' the park service says. 'Please exercise extreme caution when driving any road in the park. Do not drive into low water crossings if water is flowing across the road.' Many Texas businesses are pitching in to help the recovery effort. Austin's Meanwhile Brewing Co. and the Uptown Sports Club , for example, have announced they will donate all proceeds from their Summer Backyard Barbecue Series to The Community Foundation of the Hill Country to support the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. The barbecue event brings together chefs, brewmasters, musicians and local vendors on four days, starting July 25 and three days in August.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Entergy Texas Donates $30,000 To Aid Flood Recovery Efforts in Central Texas
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 21, 2025 /3BL/ - To provide critical support to our neighboring communities, Entergy Texas is donating $30,000 to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to aid recovery efforts following the Central Texas floods. The foundation manages the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, which helps provide rescue, relief, recovery services and flood assistance to impacted communities. 'We're heartbroken to see the damage and pain caused by the flooding,' said Eliecer Viamontes, CEO of Entergy Texas. 'We believe in being there for our neighbors—not just when the lights are on, but especially in moments of hardship. It's crucial that all Texans stand together during this time, and we hope this donation provides meaningful support to the affected communities.' The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, a public charity based in Kerrville, supports urgent relief and long-term rebuilding after the devastating floods in Central Texas. To donate, please visit the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund donation website. Entergy Texas has a longstanding commitment to strengthening the communities we the Central Texas floods did not directly impact our own service area, it is our mission to support the broader region we call home. Whether through disaster response, volunteerism or charitable giving, we are proud to stand with communities across Texas to help build a more resilient future for all. About Entergy TexasEntergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 524,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy produces, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Its customers are connected to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc. power grid, which is a regional transmission organization responsible for administering the transmission systems of member utilities in 15 states stretching across the central region of the United States and Manitoba, Canada. We're investing for growth and improved reliability and resilience of our energy system while working to keep energy rates affordable for our customers. We're also investing in cleaner energy generation like modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy. A nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at and connect with @EntergyTX on social media. Media Inquiries:Entergy Texas Media 281-297-2353 (media line) [email protected] View original content here. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Entergy Corporation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Number of missing in deadly Texas floods drops to three
The number of people missing in Texas after devastating floods hit the state has dropped from 160 people to three, officials said. The flash floods following a torrential downpour on 4 July killed 135 people in, including children at Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls' summer camp along the Guadalupe River. Dozens of others were reported missing. But on late Saturday, the city of Kerrville, at the heart of the disaster, reported that many had been verified as safe. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said that it took "countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families". In a Facebook post, the city said ,000 federal, state and local officials had worked "tirelessly" to track down the missing and that search teams were now reuniting them with their families. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. said in the post: "Our thoughts remain with the families still awaiting news, and we will continue to stand with them as efforts persist." Earlier this week, officials said the number of people who were missing had fallen from 160 to 100 in Kerr County - the hardest hit area - and nearby areas thanks to the help of thousands of rescuers. Officials said many people who were initially reported as missing had been verified as safe and were removed from the list. At Camp Mystic, at least 27 campers and counselors died after the Guadalupe River flooded from the torrential rains. The river rose 26ft (8m) in the span of just 45 minutes as young children, staff and residents slept in homes along the river. In the wake of the deadly tragedy, questions were raised about whether adequate warnings were provided and why camps weren't evacuated ahead of the deluge. Experts have said a number of factor led to the deadly impact of the flash flood, including the pre-dawn timing, the location of some homes, the patchwork of cell service and its overall speed and severity. President Donald Trump visited the wreckage last week to express his "love and support" for those who had been affected, dismissing questions about whether more could have been done to warn residents. Texas floods death toll climbs to at least 107 'Hero' dad, twin girls and riverside campers among Texas flood victims
BBC News
3 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Number of missing in deadly Texas floods down to three
The number of people missing in Texas after devastating floods hit the state has dropped from 160 people to three, officials said. The flash floods following a torrential downpour on 4 July killed 135 people in, including children at Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls' summer camp along the Guadalupe of others were reported missing. But on late Saturday, the city of Kerrville, at the heart of the disaster, reported that many had been verified as safe. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said that it took "countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families". In a Facebook post, the city said ,000 federal, state and local officials had worked "tirelessly" to track down the missing and that search teams were now reuniting them with their Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. said in the post: "Our thoughts remain with the families still awaiting news, and we will continue to stand with them as efforts persist."Earlier this week, officials said the number of people who were missing had fallen from 160 to 100 in Kerr County - the hardest hit area - and nearby areas thanks to the help of thousands of rescuers. Officials said many people who were initially reported as missing had been verified as safe and were removed from the list. At Camp Mystic, at least 27 campers and counselors died after the Guadalupe River flooded from the torrential rains. The river rose 26ft (8m) in the span of just 45 minutes as young children, staff and residents slept in homes along the river. In the wake of the deadly tragedy, questions were raised about whether adequate warnings were provided and why camps weren't evacuated ahead of the have said a number of factor led to the deadly impact of the flash flood, including the pre-dawn timing, the location of some homes, the patchwork of cell service and its overall speed and Donald Trump visited the wreckage last week to express his "love and support" for those who had been affected, dismissing questions about whether more could have been done to warn residents.
