Editor’s Note: This story went to press before additional rain hit the area earlier this week.
Communities across Kerr County and beyond are coming together following devastating flash floods over the Fourth of July weekend that left behind fatalities, destruction, and a massive cleanup effort.
Floodwaters from the Guadalupe River swept through towns including Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville and Center Point—small, historic communities that haven’t seen disaster on this scale in nearly four decades.
In Center Point, debris that had choked the city’s bridge during the flood has started to clear. Piles of logs, tree limbs, and other wreckage now line the entrance to town near the Center Point Cemetery as cleanup crews continue working.
BULLETIN PHOTOS/ Christian Meza Volunteers from across the state and beyond brought boats, heavy equipment, and supplies to Center Point, where flood damage has devastated neighborhoods along the Guadalupe River. Residents and out-of-town supporters are offering free meals and essentials, with help pouring in from neighboring counties, other states, and even outside the country.
Search and rescue operations remain active, with teams concentrating on areas closest to the river, including Swayze Street, Crossing Street, Skyline Drive and Kelly Street. Those locations are currently restricted to search and rescue personnel and volunteers, and the media is being asked to avoid the area.
Volunteers from across the state — including many from Bandera County — have joined the effort, alongside Urban Search and Rescue teams from Colorado and the Oklahoma Task Force. Helicopters continue to fly over Kerr County daily as the search for missing individuals continues.
Donations are pouring into volunteer hubs around Center Point, with items being distributed almost as quickly as they arrive to first responders and residents who have lost everything. Supplies, water, and food are being moved throughout the area by semi-trailers, fire trucks, and even golf carts.
Local businesses are stepping up. Free food is being offered at relief hubs, with Dam Smokin Tacos and NeuMart (also known as the Center Point Velocity gas station on San Antonio and China streets) working together to serve fresh meals and reduce fuel prices. Owners and employees from both establishments have partnered to provide critical support for the community.
Officials say the recovery will take time, but the response from neighbors near and far has provided hope amid heartbreak.
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