Kindness in the Wreckage: Inside the Recovery From Kerrville's Second Devastating Flood
Once again, a small Texas community is leaning on each other to get through a natural disaster. Read on for how kindness, toughness, and a willingness to help your neighbor are helping the town to get through another devastating flooding event.
Community of Kerrville Forced to Deal with Second Deadly Flooding Event
The town of Kerrville, Texas, is no stranger to catastrophe. Just one year ago, a historic flood killed over 100 people. The community in the Hill Country was hit by yet another major flood last week.
Two people died in the flooding event that unfolded on July 16 as heavy rain swept through the central and southern portions of the Lone Star State. Several flash flood emergencies developed along the Guadalupe River, conjuring up memories of the July 4, 2025, flooding disaster. Included in the over 130 fatalities in 2025 were 25 young girls who drowned when the floodwaters swept away their summer camp cabin, leaving the state in mourning.
The community was just starting to rebuild from last year's tragedy when the floodwaters raged again last week. Two people died this time around. John Mark Steward was home alone when his house was ripped from its foundation and sent into the floodwaters.
Steward's wife, Jennie, is now grieving both the loss of her husband and her home. Her community is rallying around her, helping to raise money and rebuild her life. When speaking to the media, Steward praised her community, saying, “Our garden, our memories, everything material is gone, but we have our friends, our church and our community. I could not be in a better place for this to have happened.”
Another person died in the city of Uvalde, a community still recovering from the tragic 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School. In addition to the fatality, dozens of homes were destroyed in last week's flooding.
Generosity of Community Members on Display
Chong Chin owns a neighborhood deli and gourmet grocery store in Kerrville. Last week's extreme weather triggered flooding that swallowed Chin's store. As has been the case over the last year, the people of Kerrville jumped into action, helping Chin in the massive cleanup and recovery effort. Over 30 people showed up to cut drywall and haul away mud-caked debris and furniture.
A man who once found himself in Chin's deli unable to pay for a sandwich recalled the kindness of the owner, feeding him for free. John Melendrez returned the favor six years later, setting up a GoFundMe for Chin and his wife and rallying volunteers to help with both the cleanup and the paperwork that needs to be filed after a natural disaster.
Chin is at a loss for words when asked about the generosity of his neighbors, saying “No words can describe the feeling that I have with all the help that I am being given.”
Like 2025, about a year's worth of rain slammed this part of Texas last week, eventually moving down the Guadalupe River. The river crested at a height of almost 38 feet in Center Point on Thursday morning. A gauge located downstream in the town of Comfort surged 25 feet in a period of just one hour, speaking to how quickly the rain and resulting flooding developed.
Local officials credit the improved warning systems for helping to save lives with the most recent flood.
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