How Americans are helping Texas flood victims – and what you can do
At least 120 people dead and 173 are missing in central Texas, nearly one week after devastating floods thrashed the region.
Julia Musto has the details on how Americans are helping aid flood victims:
Katie Hawkinson10 July 2025 19:40
Community members assist search and rescue missions
People near and far are coming together in Texas to assist with search and rescue missions in the wake of the deadly floods.
Kerrville Police Officer Jonathan Lamb told reporters that one off-duty officer tied a garden hose around his waist while two other officers held the hose and waded into rushing water to save two people.
One man from Colorado has even traveled to Texas to help with the efforts, telling local outlet Fox 26 he was inspired to assist in any way he could after seeing photos of the devastation.
Some are also using innovative methods to help the community recover.
Kourtney Rand, a volunteer in Ingram, Texas, told CNN the local volunteer fire department is using horses to navigate water-logged areas. That’s because they can typically navigate the treacherous terrain better than people can on foot.
NASA has also deployed two aircraft to help map the damage from the floods, while the Texas National Guard is helping the search via land and air.
Katie Hawkinson10 July 2025 19:30
Local BBQ business serves first responders and rescue crews
Texan Brandon Ayers, owner of the restaurant Buddy’s BBQ, is serving free food to local first responders and rescue crews working in the aftermath of the devastating floods.
“No matter what you go through in life, as a state, we all come together,” Ayers told NBC News.
“Everybody wants to work together, everybody wants to help each other…every person we’ve met has been amazing,” he added.
Katie Hawkinson10 July 2025 19:23
FEMA faced bureaucratic obstacles to Texas response: report
The Federal Emergency Management Agency faced bureaucratic obstacles as staff tried to coordinate a response to the deadly Texas floods, CNN reports, citing four officials.
These officials say Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s new cost-cutting measures are to blame.
Noem has ordered that all grants and contracts over $100,000 require her approval. This has stripped the agency of the autonomy it needs and hinders preparation efforts, one long-time FEMA staffer told CNN.
“We were operating under a clear set of guidance: lean forward, be prepared, anticipate what the state needs, and be ready to deliver it,” the official said. “That is not as clear of an intent for us at the moment.”
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told CNN that FEMA is “shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens.”
Katie Hawkinson10 July 2025 19:13
In pictures: Rescue crews from Oklahoma support search efforts as they enter seventh day
Search crews from Oklahoma Task Force One search for missing people near the Guadalupe River (AP)
A rescue crew member searches for missing people with a dog in Kerr County. At least 120 people have died and more than 170 are missing (AP)
Katie Hawkinson10 July 2025 19:00
Texas floods mapped: Here are the affected areas as death toll rises
Here are the latest maps of the affected areas:
Katie Hawkinson10 July 2025 18:40
Father describes desperate search for 22-year-old son
Thad Hartfield told CNN he is still searching for his 22-year-old son Aiden after he was caught in the devastating floods on Friday.
“I received a call from Aiden at 4 a.m. on the Fourth. He was telling me that there was four inches of water in the house.”
Hartfield told his son to get to the highway — which was higher ground — but the water was too fast and too high, blocking their path.
Another person who was with Aiden said he was hit by debris and swept into the water as he tried to help his friends stabilize themselves, Hartfield told CNN.
“Aiden is a very kind and gentle soul,” Hartfield said. “I know that his spirit is motivating me to continue this search and stay strong.”
Katie Hawkinson10 July 2025 18:39
State lawmaker advocates for emergency sirens
State Senator Paul Bettencourt, a Republican, told CNN he’s planning to introduce a bill that would allow Texas officials to install emergency sirens.
“When you got a 28-foot wall of water coming at you in 45 minutes, you’ve got to get a notice,” he told CNN.
Bettencourt added that many local counties need state assistance to make it happen.
“You’ve got 4,000 governments in Texas. It’s a big place. Not everybody has the resources to get it done,” he added.
Katie Hawkinson10 July 2025 18:30
Texas flood before-and-after pictures show devastating toll of catastrophe which left 120 dead and 173 missing
Katie Hawkinson10 July 2025 18:20
Kerrville thankful for outpouring of support
Kerrville Police Officer Jonathan Lamb says the community is grateful for the outpouring of support they’ve received for search and recovery efforts.
“We’re so grateful for the amount of people who want to come to this community to help, and we’ve had people from all over the state and all over the country volunteer their services,” Lamb said.
“It’s important that we have certified professional search teams out there,” he added. “Right now, we have compiled a database of volunteers who have made themselves available, and if and when that time comes that we are able to call upon them, we will be calling upon them.”
Katie Hawkinson10 July 2025 18:00