After the Flood: A Childhood Memory and How to Help Central Texas

This July 4th, I was fortunate to spend time with my parents, brother, and grandmother, who drove 11 hours from Texas to meet the newest member of our family, baby Asher. We spent the morning reminiscing—asking my dad about his childhood and swapping stories about favorite dishes growing up.

What I didn’t realize that morning was the devastation unfolding back in my home state. Heavy rains and flash flooding hit the Central Texas region that same day. As we tried to stay present, we kept an eye on the news. My cousin, who had just graduated high school, was working as a camp counselor in the affected area. Thankfully, her camp was evacuated in time, and she made it home safely after my uncle drove to get her.

If you’ve never experienced a natural disaster, it stays with you. The images and feelings never really leave. After my family returned to Texas on July 5th, I couldn’t stop following the news, waiting for updates on the missing girls from Camp Mystic. It brought me back to my own experience with a flood more than two decades ago.

When Tropical Storm Charley hit my small hometown, it dumped 17.5 inches of rain overnight. By the time we realized how bad it was, it was too late to evacuate by car. A neighbor shouted for us to come over, and together we climbed to their rooftop patio. Under a tarp, surrounded by their pets, we sat through a long, dark night. The only light came from lightning strikes. A gas pipe was leaking. The air was thick with fear, but no one spoke.

At 5 a.m., rescue trucks finally reached us, going street to street to pick up survivors. I later learned that my grandfather had been rescued from the branches of a tree. In the days and months that followed, our entire community came together to rebuild. People donated food, water, clothing, and furniture vouchers. Help that made it possible to start again.

That’s the thing about natural disasters: recovery lasts long after the headlines fade. Families in Central Texas now face that same long road. If you’re able, please consider donating to these organizations providing relief:

• Kerr County Flood Relief Fund
• WilCo Cares
• The Salvation Army Kerrville
• American Red Cross of Central & South Texas
  

As a small way to help, we sent bars of soap to one of the local relief centers. However you’re able to give—time, goods, or donations—makes a difference.

Let's take care of each other,

Elisa