KERR COUNTY, Texas — Kerr County residents say they are used to some flooding here or there, but this storm was different.
Neighbors say the sheer amount of rain they got this week made even small streams and creeks turn into rivers, flooding roads and even entire campgrounds in just a matter of minutes.
Longtime residents say the flooding and devastation are unlike anything they’ve seen before.
“At the height of it, it would have been at your waist right here,” said campground owner Constance Worth. “Actually, where we are at now. A little higher, probably.”
What You Need To Know
Kerr County saw more than 20 inches of rain in some places
Creeks and streams turned into rushing rivers, taking everything in its path
Constance Worth says her campground took on more than 3 feet of water from Goat Creek
Worth is just happy everyone at the campground is OK
Just minutes after coming down to check on the campers Thursday morning, Constance Worth says her family campground was taken over by floodwaters like she’s never seen before.
“We flood. Our creek floods all the time. And we’ve had bad floods,” said Worth. “The bad flood has never even made it into our neighbors’ property.”
But this time was different.
“I made it to the Frost trailer, which is right here,” said Worth. “And on the other side of their trailer, when I grabbed it, which I knew the water was getting, it was up to my right, right here. And I went to step around it and the water flung me like this. And so I knew, like I couldn’t just walk over.”
Worth isn’t alone. J.W. Mills grew up in Kerr County.
“I played around in this creek,” said Mills. “When the floods or heavy rains would come, it would get up maybe 5 or 6 feet in this area. Nothing ever like this. A lot of water came down in a short amount of time and had to go somewhere.”
Along areas of the Guadalupe River, it was much the same—water-covered crossings and damaged bridges. That include the Cade Loop crossings, cutting off neighbors and forcing summer camps to create alternate plans.
Still, through all the destruction, what has brought Worth joy is seeing the community come together.
“We hunkered down as a little community over here on our porch. We lined it with tables. We cooked all the meat that were in people’s fridges and made soups and made breakfast. We had another girl, that Sally. She made breakfast. She made this whole thing of breakfast tacos. And we all got to know each other,” said Worth.
The get-together is something she plans on continuing as the community rebuilds once again.
“When you could sit there all safe, it was wonderful,” said Worth.
The Recreation Room at the KOA campground in Kerrville wasn’t damaged, so they are going to keep it open for the foreseeable future. She says they plan to offer food and cleaning supplies to anyone in need.