A devastating flood in Kerrville, Texas, has reopened old wounds for the community. However, the kindness and resilience of the people are helping them heal again. John Melendrez, a resident, stood in a neighborhood deli with a sandwich he just realized he couldn’t pay for. The owner, Chong Chin, showed him kindness and told him not to worry about it.
Floodwaters Bring Destruction
Six years later, their roles have reversed. After the floodwaters swallowed Greengrocers, Chin’s gourmet grocery store, Melendrez is now helping his neighbor, cutting drywall and gathering volunteers to haul trash bags stuffed with mud-caked debris, ruined furniture, and waterlogged memories.
The flood has taken a toll on the community, with two people killed and many homes destroyed. Jennie Steward lost her husband, John Mark Steward, in the flood. She has been grieving not only the loss of her husband but also the loss of their home. Friends, neighbors, and her church have rallied around her, raising money and helping her navigate the unimaginable.
Across Hill Country, the floodwaters have carved different paths of destruction. In Uvalde, one person was killed, and dozens of homes were destroyed, compounding years of the community’s collective grief. Elsewhere, the water destroyed houses that had only recently been rebuilt after last year’s disaster.
Despite the devastation, the community is coming together to help each other. Cord Shiflet drives 200 miles round trip from Austin, helping survivors tell their stories, connecting them with resources, and raising more than $50,000 for affected families through Facebook.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
