KERRVILLE, Texas — Just like last July, heavy rain storms brought tons of water, flooding and destruction to the Kerrville area. But what neighbors say is different from last year is that the flooding came not only from the Guadalupe River, but also nearby creeks and streams overflowing.
Places like Town Creek Road have been completely washed out and all that’s left is silt, debris and river rocks, leaving a path of destruction to homes and property along the way.
“My wife got up to get a drink of water and she stepped on the puddle of clean water. We didn’t know where it was coming from,” said Daniel Claudio, a Kerrville resident.
The moment Claudio was woken up by his wife in the middle of the night, he knew they had to move fast.
“We looked outside, the creek is keeping coming up. Two feet of water down this street, just nonstop going to the creek,” Claudio said. “So that’s when I said, ‘hey, get the kids, get our personal, our main stuff, you know, spare certificates, Social Security and grab the dog and let’s go.’”
Claudio and his family have lived a block up from Town Creek for the last year, but he never expected floodwaters would reach his front door, especially after the flooding last July.
“Last year, I believe in Kerrville it rained about 4 to 5 inches,” Claudio said. “Nothing crazy. Well, it rained a lot in Hunt. And that’s what brought the river up here that much, you know, but this time it rained the last or the last three nights, you know, Wednesday night, or Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night it rain around 25 inches just in this area. So that’s why all the creeks went higher than before.”
Flooding damage on Bluebonnet Drive looking at Town Creek Road in Kerrville, Texas, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Spectrum News 1/Courtney Davis)
The heavy rains this week hit areas along the creeks and streams in Kerr County that hadn’t seen much damage last July, including places like Gibson’s Discount Center.
“Well, I initially thought the water came from the creek, but that wasn’t the case, it was coming down the street. And we lost power at 3:17 a.m.,” said Doug Hetzler of Gibson’s Discount Center.
Hetzler said water and mud covered the floor of the store after the storm. Still, he says the response to the storms this year were excellent.
“I heard that the some of the sirens went off and it warned people, awesome. I think it was great. Obviously, people are a lot more aware,” Hetzler said.
Both Hetzler and Claudio say that, while this week’s storm is a hard blow just a year after the deadly Fourth of July flooding in 2025, the community support has been overwhelmingly positive.
“You know, we’ll go through it. Kerrville’s strong, so everybody helps out,” Claudio said. “I had all my friends and family call me. We all were here yesterday cleaning out, so you know, if everybody has the same support, and it’s, it’s nothing.”
Claudio says he has family about three blocks up that they’re able to stay with at this time. And officials have said that there are already volunteer groups in the area.
The Salvation Army has been going to houses, seeing what people need done, so they are confident that they will be able to help those who have been affected.