Combined Community Action Assists Fellow Agency in Kerr County Flood Relief Efforts

When devastating floods swept through Kerr County over the Fourth of July holiday, Community Council of South Central Texas (CCSCT) quickly realized the scale of need would require extra support. They reached out to agencies across the state, and neighboring agency Combined Community Action, Inc. (CCA), was one of many who answered the call without hesitation.

Armed with a Transit Cargo Van specially outfitted as a mobile office complete with desk, chair, and power capabilities, CCA deployed a team of staff to the region to provide direct aid to flood-impacted residents. The mobile team included Family Services Specialist Carla Webb of Giddings, Family Services Program Director Deanna Lowrey-Green of La Grange, Weatherization Program Manager Carol Nolen of Giddings, Weatherization Field Assessor Trish Herzog of Winchester, and Communications Director Karen Walpole of Giddings.

Over the course of a week, the CCA team joined forces with other agencies across the state to assist CCSCT in reaching as many people as possible. Sometimes going door to door, the mobile team would drive through neighborhoods, stopping wherever they saw signs of devastation—moldy piles of debris, soaked furniture, and residents working to salvage belongings.

The team helped families sign up for hotel vouchers, H-E-B gift cards for food and gas, and perhaps most critically, utility assistance.

“What a lot of people may not realize after this level of disaster,” explained Family Services Program Director Deanna Lowrey-Green, “is the residual bills that will come in for a household. With a flood situation, families are running dehumidifiers and blowers around the clock. This, on top of regular usage, can lead to extremely high electricity bills, at the exact time when every dollar is going toward recovery.”

For Family Services Specialist Carla Webb, the experience was deeply meaningful. “It is such an honor to be able to respond and help the Kerr County community,” Webb shared. “I am so grateful to work at CCAand have this opportunity to be a real help. It's one of those things that no one in their right mind would want to go do, but when you’re walking away from the week, your heart is bursting with pride at the difference you are making.”

The emotional toll was evident, too. Weatherization Field Assessor Trish Herzog recounted a story from her childhood. “My grandmother always said, ‘Emotions come later.’ And that’s what I saw here. One woman told me how she clung to a tree for hours waiting to be rescued. Everything she had is gone. It's heartbreaking, but like my grandma said—right now, you fix the problem. The emotions will come later.”

Community Action Agencies are uniquely positioned to respond in times of crisis due to their broad service areas and local trust. “Most agencies cover many counties,” said Karen Walpole, Communications Director. “Having mobile resources makes a real difference. We are fortunate to have our mobile office and to be able to respond directly to where the need is greatest.”

The floods impacted multiple cities across Kerr County, making this disaster response more widespread than others CCSCT has faced, including their response to the Uvalde school shooting, which was more centralized.

Weatherization Program Manager Carol Nolen noted how vital disaster preparedness has become. “Disaster planning, response planning, these will be top priorities for our agency moving forward. Being here and witnessing what it takes to serve quickly and effectively in this kind of situation really reinforces how important a solid response plan is.” Nolen added that while CCA is no stranger to emergency response, having stepped in to assist during the La Grange flooding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and the devastating wildfires in Bastrop County in 2011 and 2015, a clearly defined plan can always strengthen the effort. “With each experience, we learn more, and now we have the chance to take the knowledge from those who’ve been on the ground, doing the work, and write it down so others can follow the same steps. That kind of preparation can make all the difference when every moment counts.”

As the waters recede and families begin the long road to recovery, the partnership between CCSCT and CCA stands as a powerful example of Community Action’s mission: neighbors helping neighbors, communities lifting one another, and agencies working hand-in-hand to ensure no one is left behind.