Heartbreaking Texas Floods Leave Families Devastated: Here’s How to Help

It’s hard to put into words the heartbreak we’re feeling right now across Texas. As historic flash floods devastated parts of the Hill Country over the July 4th holiday, the loss in Kerr County has been unimaginable.

Texas Flood Death Toll

Officials now say at least 82 people have died, including 28 children in Kerr County alone. Entire communities have been rocked, and the grief is something that no one could have ever prepared for.

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This disaster has tested every limit. Ten girls and one counselor are still unaccounted for from Camp Mystic. And in the small town of Hunt, residents are being urged to seek higher ground as more rain threatens already swollen rivers and washed-out roads. The danger isn’t over yet.

Communities Caught Off Guard

This wasn’t a case of people ignoring warnings in Texas. The National Weather Service issued alerts ahead of time, and Kerr County officials had previously considered installing flood sirens, but those plans never happened. Even the most prepared towns can’t always withstand the raw force of Mother Nature, and this flood hit fast and fierce.

Rescue crews have been working nonstop, by air and by ground, pulling people from flooded homes and ravaged campsites. Helicopters have filled the skies, and brave first responders on the ground are giving their all. They’re not just saving lives, they’re saving their neighbors, their friends, and their hometowns.

How You Can Help

It’ll take a long time for the Hill Country to heal. But Texans are known for stepping up when it matters most. If you’re wondering how you can make a difference, here are a few ways:

• Kerr County Flood Relief Fund: Supports local efforts in Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, and more. You can make a donation here.
• American Red Cross of Central & South Texas: Providing food, shelter, and aid. Donations are being accepted here. 
• Salvation Army: Delivering critical supplies and support on the ground. Donate to the Salvation Army here.
• Verified GoFundMe Campaigns: Helping individual families rebuild. Find those campaigns here. 
• Kerrville Pets Alive: Supporting pets and animal rescue efforts affected by the flood. Donate here.

Texas Radio Stations Take a Hit

As Kerr County and much of the Hill Country were tragically hit by the flooding, the community of San Angelo, Texas, was also hit with rising waters. Our sister stations, including KGKL, KNRX, KELI, and KGKL AM, were all taken off the air. Our corporate engineers are working hard to fix the issues that the flooding has caused.

Ben Hight summed it up:

This was classified as a 100-year flood, or to some, a 500 or 1000-year event for the area—an extraordinary situation that no amount of preparation could have prevented. With over 14 inches of rain falling in just a few hours, the scale and speed of the flooding were beyond anyone’s control.

What we walked into was nothing short of heartbreak for us. A lot of man hours trying to make our stations work efficiently and sound the best, gone in a matter of a couple of hours.

We were on scene within 90 minutes after the event to evaluate, but like so many others, we couldn’t get to our site due to flooding. But as soon as we could, we did, and got KGKL AM and KKCN back on quickly. Knrx would come later, and KGKL FM should be back Monday.

This event has deeply impacted the entire community, and Townsquare Engineering is doing everything possible to get our stations back on the air as quickly as possible.

We are a part of the community, and when it hurts, we hurt. By restoring service, we can offer our listeners a sense of normalcy through music, sports, and timely information—and hopefully provide a small but meaningful reprieve from the pain and hardship they’re experiencing.

Our hearts are with every family, first responder, and volunteer working through this tragedy in Texas. Please help if you can.