KERRVILLE, Texas – Flood survivors say they are still struggling to recover months after devastating summer flooding, and now face more uncertainty after FEMA denied a request tied to the July 16 floods.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently denied Gov. Greg Abbott’s request for statewide hazard mitigation following the July 16 flooding. FEMA said it believes the impact on individuals and households was not severe enough.
Families in hard-hit areas say the damage has left them without a clear path to rebuild.
“Now we are lost, so we don’t know what we’re going to do,” one flood survivor said.
Another survivor described the strain the flooding has placed on their family’s living situation: “Now my parents are staying with my sister in a 1200 square, 1200 foot square home. They are crowded. They live as six people in that home. So they cannot move forward because they’re on a fixed income. They can’t afford to move to another home.”
Kerr County Commissioner Rich Pace said the FEMA denial has left many people without direct aid. Pace also said there is still a need for debris cleanup, but the county cannot move forward without funding.
“We have so many individuals that need help. And the damage was far worse this time than it was last time. So I can’t I can’t explain why it’s been denied, other than perhaps it’s because there was such widespread flooding and damage in so many different counties and areas in need,” Pace said.
Questions remain about what comes next, including whether the governor will be able to appeal FEMA’s decision, whether Kerrville survivors will be reimbursed for money they have spent out of pocket for repairs, and what other options may be available to help residents rebuild.