For six years, Gilbert and Chantal Zamora lived and raised their two young children in their lovely home along Camp Meeting Creek in Kerrville. It was there in the early morning hours of July 17 that their home was overtaken by raging water.
Fear-stricken, the couple did their best to keep calm and get their children to safety.
“I came out from the back porch and the water was already up to my knees,” Chantal said. “Our house was becoming the creek.
“At that point, I turned back around and just woke everybody up and said, ‘We gotta go.’”
Once the flood waters had receded, dead fish, tree branches and debris littered the yard in the aftermath. Gilbert and Chantal began to remove soaked furniture and drywall themselves, but they – like many Hill Country residents – knew they’d need help.
The flash flood that swept through the Texas Hill Country on July 16 left nearly 500 homes damaged, waterlogged and uninhabitable. The banks of the Guadalupe River and local creeks were once again stripped raw of all greenery and debris remains tangled in driftwood and dead trees — a reminiscent scene from last summer.
Texans on Mission responded quickly, deploying teams to Kerrville, Uvalde and Boerne on Monday after the flooding. Assessors examined homes upon arrival, and flood recovery, shower/laundry, feeding, IMT, asset protection, box ministry, chaplains and electrical support teams followed soon after to serve families like the Zamoras.
While the water rose to about the same height as last year’s flood, the damage was more widespread due to the creeks also flooding, said Gene Walker, team leader of the TXM Harmony-Pittsburg team. Several families who were in the midst of rebuilding their lives following last year’s flood lost their homes once again to the recent disaster.
Walker said he was overwhelmed to see his volunteers surround families with such intentionality and support.
“Just seeing 18 of us work together and the cheerfulness we had with each other made me proud,” Walker said. “Everybody on our team took time to talk with the homeowners and as a result, their whole demeanor changes.”
Volunteers began work early on Tuesday morning. They removed water-damaged sheetrock, flooring and furniture. Then, they sprayed a strong disinfectant to protect the homes. Jobs concluded with sweeping out debris and distributing signed Bibles to homeowners.
“It's been a blessing,” Gilbert said. “We've been so grateful to Texans on Mission coming to take out our cabinets, talk about rebuilding and the mold remediation. It’s huge knowing that when we do move back into the house, it'll be safe for the family. We couldn't be where we are right now in this process without all the help that we've received.”
Natalie Broussard, a nurse at the local VA medical center, was working a night shift when she received a call from her next-door neighbor. When she arrived home, Broussard did her best to vacuum water from her living room and kitchen. The flood had soaked four inches high into the sheetrock and the insulation.
In the days following, Broussard and her daughter, Morgan Markoski, installed dehumidifiers in the house and ripped up carpet, attempting to stave off the spread of mold throughout the house. Despite Broussard’s initial hesitancy, Markoski submitted a request to Texans on Mission, asking for help in mudding out her mother’s house.
“I kept telling her, ‘You’re going to have to get on board because I submitted it, and if they reach out, that’s God’s plan,’” Markoski said.
Broussard said she felt honored to be one of the first TXM assisted on this deployment.
“It means the world to me,” Broussard said. “The volunteers brought camaraderie and peace of mind.”
Markoski recalled watching the floodwaters come through. She and her 14-month-old daughter had evacuated their apartment and were waiting out the storm in town. One minute, cars sat securely in their parking spots, she said. Thirty minutes later, the cars were floating by with the search and rescue boats pulling people from the raging waters.
“It’s just so different this time,” Markoski said. “I’ve never seen it flood in town the way it did.”
This time, Kerrville was better prepared for potential flooding, Markoski said. Newly installed sirens were put up along the river after last year’s flood. They helped to warn residents, saving many lives, but one was still lost.
“I lost people the first time it flooded — people that have been there throughout my entire life,” Markoski said. “Last time, a guy I grew up with died saving his family. The gentleman who died this time — a sweet, Christian man — would go out of his way for you for anything.”
Kerrville resident Sarah Wake said moving into her townhome with her 9-year-old son in January felt like a Christmas miracle — they’d finally found the perfect home after a long search.
However, the recent flood sent water rushing through their front door only seven months later, inundating the first floor. While the rain beat down on the roof, Wake and her son huddled together on the second floor, clutching flashlights in their hands due to a power outage.
Wake said the aftermath was crushing — until she discovered TXM was on the way to help.
As volunteers worked to remove Wake’s flooring and drywall, chaplain Bob Hourahan sat and visited with her, bringing comfort and companionship. Her dream home was ruined and needed to be torn apart, but with Hourahan right next to her, she didn’t have to watch alone.
“My role is firstly to bring peace and calm into their life, guide them through the process of what the crew is going to be doing, and then to meet their spiritual needs wherever that takes me,” Hourahan said.
As they conversed, Hourahan said he was able to share the love of Christ with Wake. By the time the volunteers circled up to pray with her at the conclusion of their work, she expressed interest in returning to her faith.
“Any large catastrophe, people are questioning: ‘Is there a God?’ ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’ That's the No. 1 question most chaplains have to answer,” Hourahan said. “We need to bring that peace and calmness into their lives.”
The work in Kerrville is not yet done. TXM volunteers will continue working with families to save their homes for as long as possible. But they’ve already begun to shine a light and bring help, hope and healing to those in Kerrville.
“Y’all gave me hope,” Wake said. “You reminded me there are people out there who are helping. I will never be able to convey how grateful and how much this helps.”