As Thanksgiving approached in 2025, the scars of the devastating July 4 floods remained raw across central Texas, with communities from Austin to Kerr County still deep in recovery mode. The Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) and countless local volunteers have stepped up to provide critical support, offering not just meals and supplies, but a sense of hope during the year’s most reflective season.
On November 26, the ADRN welcomed more than 50 families affected by the summer’s disasters to its headquarters, handing out Thanksgiving meals to those who had lost homes, businesses, and a sense of normalcy. Steven Lawrence, who lived near Georgetown, was the first to receive his meal. "I'm very grateful to Austin Disaster Relief for helping me out and feeding my family and me through Thanksgiving," Lawrence told local reporters. He recounted the terror of that July night, when a three-foot wall of water tore through his neighborhood, sweeping away everything he owned. Now, months later, he’s living on a friend’s couch, still searching for stability. "That water came across the field next door to us about three feet deep and came in like just a raging bull," he said.
The gesture, though simple, carried enormous weight. As Dwight Bailey, Executive Director of the ADRN, explained, "It's being around people that you love, and sharing this meal with people you love. I think it's incredibly important for this holiday for those who were really impacted significantly." For Lawrence and many others, the meal was more than sustenance. "I hope it brings nourishment to our bodies for sure, and I hope we get many more blessings from it," he said. The ADRN is also raising funds through its City on the Hill campaign, aiming to expand its network and continue providing aid to disaster victims across the region.
In Kerr County, 145 days after the deadly floods, the landscape and the community remain transformed. The banks of the Guadalupe River are noticeably bare, stripped of trees and littered with remnants of destruction. While much of the surface debris has been cleared, the real work—restoring homes, businesses, and spirits—is ongoing. "It’s changed. It’s completely changed. The way it looks now has changed," said Kyle Bond, a local business owner. For many, the soundtrack of daily life is now the constant hum of generators and construction equipment as cleanup and rebuilding efforts continue.
Mike and Brenda Trolinger, residents of Ingram, saw their home reduced to its studs by the July floods. Months into renovations, they’re finally seeing progress. "We are gonna be OK, you know, it’s all in God’s hands," Brenda Trolinger said, her voice a mix of hope and exhaustion. The couple hopes to return home before the year’s end, eager to reclaim a sense of normalcy. "To be able to say, ‘I’m home,’ yeah, that’s going to be awesome," she added.
But not everyone is as far along. In some neighborhoods, the rebuilding process has barely begun. Along Water Front Drive in Kerrville, at least two homes were knocked off their foundations. Timothy Gloria, who lives across the street, is still battling foundation issues. "[The water] just kind of, it just raised it up. I got insulation falling all over the place from the flood. I got stuff I need to fix, but it’s always been so wet that I couldn’t do it," Gloria explained. With repair quotes reaching $50,000, he’s turned to nonprofit organizations for help.
The business community has also faced a daunting path. Many businesses sustained extensive damage, and even those that managed to reopen have struggled to bring customers back. Some, like the 1011 Bistro restaurant in Kerrville, have closed their doors for good. "We need you, come see us," pleaded Mike Armstrong, owner of The Lakehouse Restaurant. According to KSAT, the nonprofit LiftFund has distributed about $2.5 million in small business grants and provided 20 zero-interest loans to help with recovery. "We have deployed approximately 319 small business grants, totaling about $2.5 million in grants. And to date, we’ve done 20 loans at zero percent interest," said Adrian Gonzalez, LiftFund’s chief CDC Officer. Still, as Steve Edelstein, another local business owner, pointed out, "The biggest part is obtaining financing, obtaining funding to rebuild. We’ve raised about $150,000. The rebuild is going to run over $400,000."
Veteran Aaron Tapley, who founded the Rampart Vigilance Foundation in response to the floods, has spent months wading through the waters of Ingram Lake and the Guadalupe River with fellow veterans, first responders, and volunteers. Their mission: to remove hazardous debris and make the waterways safe again. "We’ve seen it all...there’s everything from household debris, typical forest debris, full-size cypresses...underwater, cars, RV parts," Tapley said. Despite their efforts, dangers remain. "There’s an extreme amount of hazards along there that haven’t been pulled out yet. A lot of metal debris, metallics, sheds, homes," he added.
The tragedy of the floods is compounded by the fact that two victims—Jeffrey Ramsey, 63, and Seal Steward, 8—remain missing. Tapley’s makeshift office, a storage unit near Ingram Lake, is adorned with their photos, a stark reminder of unfinished business. "[My mission is to] find the people that are missing and make...the public waterways safe for the people to enjoy again and actually come back here," he said.
Community members like Ann Carr have started petitions to drain Ingram Lake, hoping to speed up the cleanup and restore safety. "We’ve got heavy machinery owners that own septic tanks...we’re blue collar. Ingram is blue collar, so we’ve got all the equipment that’s necessary to go out there and let us clean it. Let us get dirty, and let’s take care of Ingram Lake because it is the heart of our community," Carr said.
Throughout this ordeal, local churches have served as pillars of support. Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville has been a hub for recovery efforts, offering financial help and counseling services to flood victims. "If we can help the people that need it, that’s all we care about," said Pastor John Wheat, whose church grounds have hosted disaster relief trailers since July. "The mindset is that that happened on July the Fourth, and for some, they’re still living with it. It’s over, but it hasn’t gone away." Wheat remains steadfast in his commitment to the community. "I think when we come along together as a people, and as friends or neighbors or whatever, we can help each other and be alongside each other...we’re gonna be here. We’re not going anywhere," he said.
As the holiday season unfolds, hope weaves through every act of generosity and every effort to rebuild. The road ahead is long, but the spirit of these Texas communities—bolstered by neighbors, volunteers, and organizations—remains unbroken.
